Troy Aikman Announces He Has 'No Plans' To Leave ESPN

Much like Tom Brady, Troy Aikman has no intentions of giving up one set of duties for another.

by Tzvi Machlin

Aug 13, 2026

Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Television commentator Troy Aikman speaks before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Much like his FOX counterpart Tom Brady, Troy Aikman will enter the 2026 season pulling double duty as both an NFL broadcaster and an NFL executive. And just like Brady, he has no intentions of giving up one set of duties for another.

Appearing on the Dallas Dialogue show, Aikman said he spoke to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell personally to get his input on being both an ESPN color commentator and an executive for the Miami Dolphins. He said that Goodell told him that it's fine.

“I’ve talked to the commissioner, and he’s fine with what I’m doing and my role,” Aikman said. “But I think that anyone that’s behind a mic that’s calling a game, there’s a conflict of interest. Because you have relationships in this business. I’ve been doing it for 25 years, and I have friendships every week that I call a game… and so I would argue every broadcaster has a conflict when they’re calling a game.

“I’ll just be very transparent. I don’t know if I’ll come out right away and say I’ve been involved in doing this, because it’ll be a year from now. But I think as long as you’re up front with the viewer and let them know the deal, they can take away from that as far as whether or not you’re biased in your analysis.”

Aikman's Future at ESPN

Aikman may plan on pulling double duty, but he can't without a contract and his current one at ESPN is reportedly coming up soon. However, Aikman said that he has no intentions on leaving ESPN. He said that he loves his job there and enjoys it so much that it actually takes time away from what he could be giving to the Dolphins.

“I have no plans to leave ESPN. I’m enjoying my broadcasting career as much as I ever have,” he said. “And so it doesn’t afford me the time I think it would require if I was to give the Dolphins more than I’ve given them up to this point. But I am a resource for them. No official title. Who knows, maybe that might change at some point when I decide to walk away form broadcasting if I still want to get involved and stay involved with an NFL team. But I’ve really enjoyed it.”