ESPN may have to step in this season if things get worse between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
During the early stages of the 2026 season, ESPN signed Buck to a six-year extension worth around $108 million. Aikman, on the other hand, hasn’t received a new deal. Their contract situations sparked an argument prior to a “Monday Night Football” broadcast, per Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports.
“On Monday night, before the Rams took on the Bills at SoFi Stadium, the site of this season’s Super Bowl, Buck “broke the ice” on this unspoken tension, and he and Aikman had an argument, a source said. It ultimately de-escalated, and the two had a broadcast in which viewers never would have been able to decipher that something was amiss,” Glasspiegel.
Fast forward to late October, and the NFL world received an update on Buck and Aikman’s rift.
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According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Aikman’s camp believes Buck is a “master of manipulating” and used that skill to land his extension with ESPN. Buck’s side, meanwhile, has accused Aikman of “barking orders for replays he desired.”
“You are not going to f—— talk to me?” Buck allegedly told Aikman during their dispute. “I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.”
When Aikman allegedly complained about ESPN’s constant personnel turnover, Buck apparently replied: “They got rid of them because you were screaming at them.”
What’s next for Troy Aikman?
While at a book signing for Peter King this week, Aikman said “there’s a 50-50 chance” he won’t be on TV next year.
If Aikman doesn’t land a broadcasting gig, he could end up working for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.
“I would have lunch, breakfast, or dinner with Jerry any time he wants it. And it wouldn’t necessarily have to be because it’s a job interview. Just because, you know, we go back a long way. . . . I came in, I was 22 years old. I was his very first draft pick. There’s a lot within that relationship, both from the beginning, when he began as the owner, when I began my NFL career as a quarterback for 12 years of my life, playing for him, and then, even in the years that have followed, you know, we’ve been through a lot. We’ve been through the highest of highs, we’ve been through some pretty tough moments as well. Our relationship is complicated. I think he would agree with that, but it is one that’s built, I believe, on respect. This week, he said some really kind things, which meant a lot to me, quite honestly. So, yeah, I would welcome any conversation with Jerry, and quite honestly I don’t know if there would be, or if there ever would be an opportunity. But if Jerry came to me and felt that, in his heart, I could lend some services that would help make them better, I would — I’d have a hard time not taking a good look at that.”
For now, Aikman is expected to finish this season as ESPN’s lead color commentator.
