ESPN play-by-play announcer Joe Buck reportedly signed a six-year, $108 million deal, but analyst Troy Aikman has not received an offer. Reports describe bad blood between the two, who are still working Monday Night Football together.
ESPN lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck signed a new contract with the network, but his analyst partner Troy Aikman has not, resulting in reported bad blood between them. Buck reportedly signed a new six-year, $108 million deal with ESPN, while Aikman is in the final year of his contract and hasn't received an offer. Buck reportedly negotiated the new contract without telling Aikman.
A tense Monday Night Football exchange
Buck and Aikman have broadcast various pro football games together for 25 years. They are still calling Monday Night Football together despite a reported falling out. During a Monday Night Football broadcast last month, Buck reportedly asked Aikman, using profanity, whether he was really not going to talk to him, and later said he was not the reason Aikman lacks a contract. Aikman reportedly replied that he never thought Buck would do that to him.
Aikman's future and the Super Bowl
Aikman said he is in his last year at ESPN and realizes his television career could be taken away, adding that he hopes it is not over. The Athletic's Andrew Marchand said he believes there is a 95% chance Aikman calls the Super Bowl with Buck in February, meaning a 5% chance he does not. Marchand made the estimate while appearing on The Varsity podcast with John Ourand.
NFL comment and a CBS move
NFL executive vp and chief media officer Hans Schroeder said the league has no concern about the Buck-Aikman impasse at ESPN. Separately, CBS removed the interim label from J.J. Watt's title and named him its lead NFL analyst through the 2028 Super Bowl.
