When you're naming iconic sportscasting duos, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck have to be towards the top of the list. After all, they've been broadcast partners since 2002.
Back in 2022, ESPN signed Aikman and Buck to multi-year deals in an effort to improve its "Monday Night Football" crew. It's safe to say that was a smart decision considering the network won Sports Emmy Award for "Outstanding Live Sports Series."
"When you have the opportunity to bring in the iconic, longest-running NFL broadcasting duo, you take it, especially at a time when we are on the cusp of a new era in our expanding relationship with the NFL," said Jimmy Pitaro. "The NFL continues to ascend, and we now have more games than ever before, providing additional opportunities for Joe, Troy and our deep roster of commentators."
As you'd imagine, Aikman and Buck will be back at ESPN for the 2026 season. And luckily for NFL fans, it's not expected be their last ride.
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Buck, 56, spoke to Richard Deitsch about his future as a play-by-play broadcaster. He revealed that his plan is to continue working at ESPN until he's ready to retire.
"If you reached through my computer screen right now and handed me a contract to continue my time at ESPN, I would sign it without even looking at it," Buck told Deitsch. "I've loved every second of it, and I am hopeful that I’m at ESPN for the rest of my career. That’s as plain as I can say it and as honest as I can say it, and maybe it’s stupid of me to say. If something gets thrown at me and I have to shift, I’ll shift. But I would be hopeful to stay right where I am until I’m finished."
That has to be music to ESPN's ears considering Buck is one of, if not the best in the business.
Gearing up for another Super Bowl.
ABC hasn't been able to televise the Super Bowl since 2006. Luckily for Buck, he'll get the chance to call the final game of the 2026 season at SoFi Stadium.
"When we were doing it on a regular basis, we were doing it every three years. And it felt like every three years was about the right pace to that because it is big. I can’t wait to do it next year. We’re doing it next year at ABC/ESPN…it’s going to be the biggest day in ESPN history, I think, with what’s on the line," Buck said, via Awful Announcing.
"To get back into that rotation for Troy and me. There’s no day like it. And in broadcasting, to talk into a microphone and know there’s that many people on the other end – 94 percent of which are not listening to one word you’re saying, they want to watch the commercials and see if their bet worked – but it’s really cool."
Aikman and Buck haven't called a Super Bowl since the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in February 2020.
