Troy Aikman Just Sacked Lamar Jackson… Off the Field

If you thought the biggest hits in football happen on Sundays, think again. Because this week, Cowboys legend Troy Aikman just laid the smackdown on Ravens superstar Lamar Jackson… and he didn’t even have to put on pads. Nope, this wasn’t about touchdowns or interceptions — it was about who owns the number 8. Yes, seriously. Welcome to the NFL in 2025, where even jersey numbers turn into lawsuits.

For those who need a quick refresher: Troy Aikman — three-time Super Bowl champ, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and current beer entrepreneur — has a trademark on the word “EIGHT.” That’s right, big bold letters. He uses it for his EIGHT beer brand, some merch, and even slapped it on bags and energy drinks. Basically, Aikman turned his old Cowboys jersey number into a full-blown lifestyle.

On the other side of the field? Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. The reigning MVP, known for his insane highlight reels and video-game jukes, also happens to wear the number 8. Naturally, he wanted to turn “Era 8” into his own brand. Hoodies, hats, slogans like “You 8 Yet?” — classic athlete merch empire vibes.

Sounds harmless, right? Two dudes rocking the same number, both trying to make a buck off it? Well… not exactly.

Because when Jackson filed his trademarks, Aikman’s camp hit back, claiming they had dibs on the number. What followed was a legal tug-of-war over something that sounds like it should belong on Sesame Street. “Today’s episode is brought to you by the number 8!”

Fast-forward to this week, and Jackson suddenly dropped the lawsuit. Not just dropped — he withdrew with prejudice, which is fancy lawyer speak for “don’t ever try this again.” In other words, this legal drive is over. Game clock hit zero.

Aikman, never one to mince words, immediately took to Instagram to spike the ball. He reposted an article about Jackson’s withdrawal and added his own little victory dance:

“From day one, this lawsuit had no merit. A fact underscored by its with-prejudice withdrawal.”

Translation: Nice try, kid. But this was DOA from the start.

Ouch. Somebody call the trainers, because that burn is gonna leave a mark.

If that wasn’t enough, Aikman’s attorney Brad D. Rose also chimed in, giving the legal version of a touchdown celebration dance:

“These withdrawals are an acknowledgement that Mr. Jackson’s claims were an overreach and should never have been brought in the first place.”

In other words: Lamar tried to hurdle the trademark wall, but face-planted like a kicker attempting a backflip.

Of course, NFL Twitter didn’t miss its chance to pile on:

• “Lamar just lost to a retired QB who hasn’t thrown a pass since Y2K.”

• “Bro couldn’t juke the Trademark Office.”

• “Imagine explaining to your kids that two multimillionaires are fighting over who gets to own… the number 8.”

Memes started flying, with photoshops of Aikman stiff-arming Lamar like it was Madden 2001, or Sesame Street’s Count von Count laughing: “AH AH AH, I own the 8!”

You might be asking yourself: why are grown men with generational wealth fighting over a single digit? Welcome to the sports business.

Trademarks equal money. Athletes don’t just want to sell jerseys anymore — they want empires. Michael Jordan turned “23” into a global brand. Tom Brady tried (and failed) to trademark “TB12” everywhere from protein powder to pajamas. Even Pat McAfee once joked about trademarking his catchphrase “BOOMSTICK.”

For Aikman, “EIGHT” isn’t just nostalgia — it’s beer in your fridge, shirts in your closet, and millions in licensing. For Lamar, “Era 8” was supposed to be his version of that. But when trademarks collide, lawyers eat. And this time, Lamar ended up paying the bill.

There’s also something hilarious about the matchup itself. Aikman hasn’t played since 2000, spends Sundays calling games on TV, and launched a health-conscious light beer brand. Meanwhile, Lamar is one of the most electric athletes on the planet, dropping defenders in real time and pulling off highlight reels that make TikTok explode.

And yet, when it came to the courtroom, the 58-year-old beat the 28-year-old like it was Cowboys vs. Ravens in some alternate Super Bowl. Maybe Lamar should’ve studied Aikman’s game film… from law school.

The good news? Lamar can still rock “Era 8” on his personal brand, just not in ways that directly clash with Aikman’s EIGHT trademark. He can still sell hoodies, run camps, and market himself — but he’s not getting the monopoly he wanted.

The bad news? He’s now the butt of jokes across the league. Rival fans will be chanting “EIGHT!” at Ravens games faster than you can say “trademark pending.”

And Aikman? He’s probably cracking open an EIGHT beer right now, toasting to his courtroom victory.

This whole saga is a reminder of how weird sports culture has gotten. Numbers used to just be, well, numbers. A way to spot your favorite player on the field. Now, they’re brands. Assets. Investments.

What’s next — Dak Prescott trademarking the number 4? Patrick Mahomes trying to own “15” before high schoolers can print it on shirts? Somebody call Roger Goodell before the league turns into a math textbook.

So here we are: Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, fresh off the broadcasting booth, just “sacked” Lamar Jackson in a game that never took place on the field. One Hall of Famer, one MVP, both fighting over the same number. And in the end, Aikman gets the W.

It might not show up in the box score, but trust me — NFL fans will remember this one. And every time someone cracks open an EIGHT beer, somewhere in Dallas, Troy Aikman is smiling.

Meanwhile, Lamar? Well… let’s just say he might want to stick to juking linebackers, not trademark lawyers.

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