Apparently, ESPN has Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to thank for the NFL adding the network to its Super Bowl rotation.
During a recent episode of his SiriusXM show, Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo said ESPN got the rights to Super Bowl LXI because of Aikman and Buck’s credibility as broadcasters. They’ve been working together in the booth for over two decades, proving themselves to be an extraordinary pair.
“Aikman and Buck got a fortune, but they also brought a Super Bowl to ESPN,” Russo said, via Awful Announcing.
“Because I don’t know if they would have gotten a Super Bowl unless they had those guys because that’s how important they are, Aikman and Buck…so a little different for them. But to pay the top guys $17 million to do the games, we’re gonna watch the games no matter what. Not one announcer – and that includes Madden – if you gave Madden a lousy game, you’re not gonna watch it…nobody is watching these games to see the announcers.”
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Did ESPN get the Super Bowl because of Aikman and Buck?
Make no mistake, ESPN was thrilled about landing deals with Aikman and Buck. Their voices alone elevate the network’s “Monday Night Football” telecast.
“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 ESPN chairman 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.”
That being said, ESPN got back in the Super Bowl rotation when hte NFL negotiated a rights deal in 2021. Aikman and Buck, meanwhile, joined the network in 2022.
There you have it – ESPN was going to get a Super Bowl telecast no matter what. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Aikman and Buck in the booth.
