Troy Aikman says he will be a free agent after the season, as reported rift with Joe Buck over ESPN contracts goes public

What Aikman said

Troy Aikman said Thursday that he will be a free agent at the end of this NFL season, and that he is looking ahead to his "next landing spot." The ESPN Monday Night Football analyst made the remarks in an interview with Dallas radio station KTCK The Ticket. ^{[1] [2]}

Asked about a reported disagreement with play-by-play partner Joe Buck, Aikman did not deny it. He said there is "probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed," adding that he did not know whether now was that time. He also said it was not hard to figure out what had happened, according to Mediaite's account of the interview. ^{[1] [5]}

Aikman said he will work through the season and become a free agent when his contract ends. The Ticket reported that the deal expires after the Super Bowl in February. ^{[1] [2]}

The reported argument

Front Office Sports reported on Oct. 14 that Aikman and Buck argued before ESPN's Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 12. Awful Announcing, summarizing the report by FOS's Ryan Glasspiegel, said a source told FOS that Buck raised the strain over their different contract situations, and that the exchange cooled before kickoff. ^{[3] [2]}

The broadcast itself showed no visible sign of friction, according to the FOS report as relayed by its follow-up article. Mediaite described the exchange as contentious. These details rest on an unnamed source, and neither ESPN nor either announcer has described the argument on the record in the coverage reviewed. ^{[2] [5]}

Contract situations

The Athletic reported on Sept. 16 that Buck agreed to a six-year ESPN extension worth more than $100 million, keeping him as the network's lead NFL voice through its 2031 Super Bowl broadcast, according to Awful Announcing and Front Office Sports. ^{[3] [2]}

Aikman, 59, is in the final year of a five-year ESPN deal reportedly worth $18 million a year, The Ticket reported. FOS reported that he has not received a formal offer. Awful Announcing, citing The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, said ESPN plans to wait until after the Super Bowl to negotiate with Aikman or move on, and that the pair returning together remains the likeliest outcome. That is the reporter's characterization, not an ESPN statement. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Background and what comes next

ESPN signed both men to five-year deals in 2022, pairing the longtime partners, who first worked together at Fox, for Monday Night Football. Awful Announcing put their partnership at about 25 years. ESPN has this season's Super Bowl, which The Ticket said will be played at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14. ^{[2] [4] [1]}

FOS reported that CBS could pursue Aikman in the offseason after parting with Tony Romo. The Ticket said he could also look at other networks, streaming services or an NFL front-office role. FOS added that Aikman consulted for the Dolphins last offseason, which left him subject to NFL team-access rules, though details of that role are unclear. All of this is speculation about options, and Aikman has not announced any plans. ^{[2] [1]}

The open questions are whether ESPN will make an offer before the season ends, and whether Aikman and Buck will work the remaining games together. No schedule change to their assignments has been reported. ^{[4] [5]}