Troy Aikman’s future as the lead analyst for “Monday Night Football” might be in doubt.
A week ago, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that ESPN signed Joe Buck to a six-year extension worth around $108 million. Most fans assumed a new deal would be announced for Aikman since he’s been partners with Buck for 25 years.
With Week 3 of the NFL season here, Aikman is still unsigned past the 2026 NFL season.
While a deal could materialize in the coming months, NFL fans are starting to wonder if ESPN has a replacement in mind for Aikman.
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“ESPN would be dumb to get rid of half of the best Monday Night Football announcing crew since Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford & Dandy Don Meredith, but they’re probably grooming that Pat McAfee to take Troy Aikman’s place,” one fan said.
“I’m starting to think Aikman get replaced and doesn’t get this next contract,” a second fan wrote on X.
“Greg Olsen getting the spot. Hopefully,” a third fan commented.
“ESPN is waiting on McVay,” another fan predicted.
Even Troy Aikman is surprised by his contract situation.
Aikman recently spoke to sports media insider Richard Deitsch about his uncertain future at ESPN. The three-time Super Bowl champion thought he’d have a new deal done by now.
“I thought something would be done prior to the start of this season,” Aikman told Deitsch, via Pro Football Talk. “I’ve never gone into the last year of a contract ever since I signed with the Dallas Cowboys. And so I thought that it would be done. It’s not. When it might get done, if it gets done, is anyone’s guess. And it’s really not something that I’m putting a lot of energy into.”
Time will tell if Aikman works out an extension with ESPN.
