Tensions have emerged between ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. The situation comes on the heels of Buck securing a lucrative new five-year contract worth over $100 million, while Aikman remains unsigned. Speculation has arisen that Aikman might not return to ESPN next season as Buck’s broadcasting partner.
During a recent radio appearance on 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman was queried about his broadcasting future and the state of his relationship with Buck. He did not mince words, effectively confirming his departure from ESPN at the end of the NFL season, which will conclude with Super Bowl LXI. This season marks ESPN’s first time broadcasting the Super Bowl.
Aikman remarked, “There’s probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed. I don’t know if now is the time. I don’t know that it’s hard to figure out kind of what happened. I’ll broadcast through this season and I’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and kind of see what happens. I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this season does hold and the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot may be.”
Since 2022, Aikman has been part of ESPN after transitioning from Fox alongside Buck, forming the network’s leading broadcast team. If Aikman enters free agency, CBS emerges as a potential destination. This year, CBS moved on from Tony Romo following his DUI incident. Though J.J. Watt now joins Jim Nantz on CBS’s top broadcast team, Aikman’s expertise could attract the network, potentially moving Watt to the No. 2 team.
Another option for Aikman could be a return to Fox. While their primary broadcasting team includes Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt, rumors suggest Greg Olsen might leave at the end of the season, creating a vacancy on the No. 2 team with Joe Davis.