Aikman, Buck Partnership at ESPN Appears Over Amid Broadcast Booth Shake-up
Greg Olsen is reportedly the leading candidate to replace Troy Aikman alongside Joe Buck on Monday Night Football.
Troy Aikman and Joe Buck's tenure as ESPN's lead Monday Night Football broadcast team is likely nearing its end, with significant industry speculation pointing to Aikman's departure after the current season. Sources suggest that Greg Olsen is the frontrunner to replace Aikman in the booth starting in March.
Reports indicate that Aikman is not expected to re-sign with ESPN, and discussions are more focused on whether the broadcast pair can finish out the current season, including the Super Bowl in February, rather than Aikman's contract renewal. The prevailing expectation within ESPN circles is that Aikman will leave, and Olsen will be brought in to partner with Buck.
Earlier this month, a confrontation between Buck and Aikman reportedly occurred before a Monday Night Football game. Buck allegedly confronted Aikman for ignoring him, while Aikman accused Buck of undermining his contract negotiations by securing his own deal first. However, sources indicate this incident did not drive ESPN's decision. The network had already decided this past summer to move on from Aikman after re-signing Buck to a six-year, $108 million contract extension without making a new offer to Aikman.
The exact reasons for ESPN's decision not to negotiate with Aikman remain somewhat unclear, beyond the reported tensions with Buck. One explanation suggests that ESPN views the relationship between the two announcers as irreparable and considers Buck the more valuable asset.
ESPN's preference for Buck over Aikman is understandable for several reasons. Buck and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro share an interest in ESPN potentially acquiring the World Series broadcast rights after 2029, and Pitaro reportedly wants Buck to call the games, as he did previously at Fox. Additionally, ESPN has a broader range of potential replacements for Aikman's color analyst role. Beyond Olsen, other candidates like Drew Brees, Jason Kelce, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Dan Orlovsky are considered viable options. The network also anticipates a steady stream of talented former players and coaches expressing interest in broadcasting careers.
In contrast, the pool of elite play-by-play announcers is more limited. While Dave Pasch has drawn praise for his NFL International broadcasts, the gap between Buck and other potential successors is considered significant. The source notes that the exit of Aikman and Buck as a duo, after establishing what is widely regarded as one of the best pairings in sports broadcasting, represents an unnecessary risk for ESPN.
The article suggests that given their reported salaries of $18 million to $20 million per year each, ESPN should have prioritized resolving any issues to maintain the successful partnership, especially given their continued strong on-air performance.