Terry Bradshaw, a longtime colleague of broadcast partners Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, has shared his perspective on the reported feud between the two, expressing skepticism about the depth of their disagreement. Bradshaw, who worked with the duo at Fox Sports from 2002 to 2022, communicated with Buck via text message.
"I talked to Buck via text and told him I don’t assume everything I’m reading is correct," Bradshaw told Brian Kilmeade of "Fox & Friends." "I know Troy Aikman well. They’re both real good friends of mine. I don’t understand. Because Troy has a big contract now, and Joe got a big contract. I don’t want to believe that it’s the money that Buck got that’s got Troy upset because Troy’s making big money."
Reports suggest the friction stems from Joe Buck signing a five-year, $108 million contract extension with ESPN before Aikman secured a new deal. Aikman's management reportedly sought a similar contract for him but was rebuffed by ESPN.
Bradshaw indicated that while Aikman and Buck were expected to move to ESPN together as a package deal, the contract situations appear to be the source of the issue. "The reporting has been it’s about money," Bradshaw stated. "I find that hard to believe because Troy Aikman is not like that. He’s not like that. My understanding right now is things are okay."
Despite the reported off-air tension, their weekly "Monday Night Football" broadcasts have proceeded without incident. The two have worked together for approximately 25 years, and their upcoming 2027 Super Bowl assignment is speculated to be their final game together.
Aikman reportedly expressed his feelings to Buck, saying, "I just never thought you would do it to me." Buck's reported reply was, "I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract."