Joe Buck’s Contract Renewal Sparks Speculation on Troy Aikman’s ESPN Departure

Recent developments have stirred tensions between ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Buck, rewarded with a new five-year contract exceeding $100 million, remains with ESPN. Meanwhile, Aikman is yet to sign a new contract, leading to speculation about a potential exit from ESPN.

During a radio appearance on 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman addressed these rumors concerning his broadcasting future and his relationship with Buck. He indicated a planned departure from ESPN at the end of the NFL season, coinciding with Super Bowl LXI. This year marks ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast.

‘There’s probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed,’ Aikman said. ‘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 joined ESPN in 2022 alongside Buck, transitioning from Fox, where they were the leading broadcast duo. If Aikman enters free agency, CBS emerges as a potential destination, having recently parted ways with another Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo, after his DUI incident. J.J. Watt replaced Romo as Jim Nantz’s partner on CBS, but Aikman’s experience might tempt the network to reconsider, possibly moving Watt to a lesser role.

Alternatively, Aikman could return to Fox. Tom Brady and Kevin Burkhardt currently lead the top broadcast team. However, with rumors of Greg Olen leaving at the season’s end, a position could open on the No. 2 team alongside Joe Davis, making it a viable opportunity for Aikman.