High School:  Grant
College:  Washington State, Sacramento State

 

​* Arena Football Career: 19 years

​* 3-Time First Team All Arena (2000,2001, 2011)

​* 2-Time AFL Offensive Player of the Year (2001 & 2011)

​* Arena Bowl MVP XXIV

​* 2011 Arena Bowl XXIV Champion

​* AFL's 25 Greatest Players (#3)

​* 62,159 Career Passing Yards

* 1,382 Touchdowns

 

Aaron was born and raised in Sacramento, and was destined to be an athlete following in his father’s footsteps.  Henry, aka “Hank”, was a standout player at Grant High School who later became one of the most successful coaches in the school’s history. 

 

Loving sports at an early age, Aaron would tag along with Hank while he was coaching. He was a ball boy for the football team and enjoyed playing basketball as well.  He thought basketball would be his best sport and possibly his future: mainly because his dad wouldn’t let him play football until the ninth grade.  Once Aaron did play, there was no turning back.  He was the starting quarterback at Grant his sophomore year and would continue playing quarterback for the next 26 years. 

 

In his three seasons leading the Pacers, he became one of the best passers the area has ever seen.  He led the Sacramento area in passing his junior year and the state of California his senior season.  He was named California State Player of the Year and broke John Elway’s records for passing yardage and touchdowns.  Aaron threw for 5,800 yards and 57 touchdowns at Grant over a two year period. 

 

He had numerous college scholarship offers including one from just about every Pacific 10 Conference school. He chose Washington State, who was coached by the very successful Dennis Erickson.  Aaron was named the starter his freshmen year and led the Pac 10 in passing efficiency.   The following year, Erickson left Washington State to take the head coaching  job at the University of Miami.  Mike Price became the next Cougars Head Coach and he had plans for another quarterback (Drew Bledsoe) to guide his team. Aaron stayed for his sophomore season but would soon leave Washington State.  He decided to come back home and enroll at Sacramento State.  Aaron quarterbacked the Hornets in 1992 and 1993 and had good success.  He threw for 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year.

 

Deemed too short by NFL standards, Aaron went undrafted in 1995 and was left wondering what his future would hold.  He was becoming disenchanted with football, when he would get an opportunity from an unexpected source.  Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Danny White, was coaching in the upstart Arena Football League with the Arizona Rattlers.  Aaron was a Cowboys fan growing up, so when White wanted Aaron to run his offense he gladly accepted.

 

Aaron found a home in the pass-happy league and began to embark on an amazing career.  His style fit perfectly, and for the next 19 years he put up mind-boggling numbers.   He set numerous passing records in the AFL and nearly every coach wanted to him to be their quarterback.  Aaron had pinpoint accuracy and was a great leader. He played for nine different teams and was one of the longest tenured players in Arena Football League history. 

 

Arena Bowl XXIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in league history.  Aaron lead the Jacksonville Sharks to victory by completing a touchdown pass on the final play of the game in one of the most dramatic finishes ever.  He earned Arena Bowl XXIV Most Valuable Player award.  He was also a 2-time Arena League Offensive Player of the Year in 2001 & 2011.  In 2010, he became the all-time leader in passing touchdowns in AFL history and would end his career with a grand total of 1,382 touchdowns and 62,159 passing yards.  Aaron was one of the most successful players in Arena Football League history.  He was named to the AFL's 25 Greatest Players of all time list: he is ranked #3.

 

After his playing days, Aaron became a football coach. He was the Head Coach of the Arena Football League’s Las Vegas Outlaws.  He also spent time back at his alma-mater as the quarterback coach at Grant. Since 2017, he has been coaching at Capital Christian High School, where he is currently the Athletic Director.

 

Aaron has stayed true to his Sacramento roots and has been a fixture in the community for a very long time.  He is known for being an outstanding player, leader and teacher and will always be considered one of the most productive quarterbacks Sacramento has ever seen.