Recent reports indicate notable tension between ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Buck secured a lucrative five-year contract exceeding $100 million, while Aikman remains unsigned. Speculation has emerged regarding Aikman’s future at ESPN, with suggestions that he might not return as Buck’s sidekick next season.
During a radio interview on 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman addressed questions about his broadcasting plans and the rumored strain in his friendship with Buck. Aikman didn’t shy away from confirming his impending departure from ESPN at the season’s end, coinciding with Super Bowl LXI, which ESPN will broadcast for the first time.
Aikman stated, “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.”
Aikman, along with Buck, joined ESPN from Fox in 2022, where they were recognized as the network’s leading broadcast team. As Aikman explores free agency, CBS emerges as a potential destination. The network recently ended its association with Tony Romo following his DUI incident. J.J. Watt has since stepped in alongside Jim Nantz on CBS’ top broadcast team. Still, Aikman’s broadcasting prowess might be irresistible, possibly leading CBS to reposition Watt to the second team.
Another option could see Aikman return to Fox. Fox’s main team features Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt. However, with rumors suggesting Greg Olen might leave at the season’s conclusion, Aikman might fill a vacancy on the second team with Joe Davis.
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