Report: Tension may split ESPN's Buck-Aikman booth
Reports suggest the Monday Night Football announcing team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman may be nearing a split. Buck has signed a new six-year deal with ESPN, but Aikman is unsigned beyond this season and has acknowledged he will be a free agent. Aikman said he plans to call the rest of the season, including ESPN's first Super Bowl broadcast, before deciding on his next move.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have led ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage since 2022. A Front Office Sports report described friction before the Rams-Bills game at SoFi Stadium, which will host this season’s Super Bowl. Buck signed a six-year extension in September, tying him to ESPN through its next Super Bowl. Aikman, however, has no deal beyond this season.
Aikman told Dallas radio station 96.7 The Ticket he will finish the season and enter free agency, then evaluate options. ESPN will air its first Super Bowl this season. Elsewhere, CBS adjusted after Tony Romo’s exit, FOX’s Greg Olsen is in his final contract year, and Aikman has advised the Miami Dolphins, including their GM search.
The uncertainty could affect ESPN viewers, NFL fans, and the broader sports-media labor market. If Aikman leaves, Monday Night Football’s familiar pairing may change, potentially altering how audiences experience one of the NFL’s highest-profile broadcasts, including ESPN’s first Super Bowl. Broadcasters and networks may also watch how his free agency unfolds, since it could influence future contracts, booth pairings, and fan attachment to on-air personalities. The outcome may shape perceptions of stability in sports television.