Joe Buck Signs Massive ESPN Deal, Troy Aikman's Future Uncertain
Buck's six-year, $108 million contract extension with ESPN keeps him as the voice of Monday Night Football into the 2030s, but his longtime broadcast partner's status remains undecided.
Joe Buck has agreed to a six-year, $108 million contract extension with ESPN, a deal that will keep him as the primary play-by-play announcer for "Monday Night Football" through the 2030 season. However, the future of his longtime broadcast partner, Troy Aikman, remains uncertain as his own contract with the network is set to expire.
Buck and Aikman have been an NFL broadcast team for 25 seasons, the longest-running booth partnership in league history. They moved together from Fox to ESPN in 2022. Aikman's current five-year, $90 million contract concludes after he and Buck call Super Bowl LIX in February.
Aikman's role with the Dolphins last offseason as a special advisor, assisting in their general manager search, has fueled speculation about his future broadcast plans. He has previously expressed interest in serving as a general manager himself.
The sports broadcasting landscape is experiencing significant movement with several other prominent figures nearing the end of their contracts. Among them are Prime Video's Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit, CBS's Ian Eagle and JJ Watt, and Fox's Greg Olsen.
Compounding the uncertainty is the status of CBS's Tony Romo, who was placed on leave following an arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence. CBS has not indicated when or if Romo will return to the broadcast booth, and he is not scheduled for Weeks 2 or 3 of the upcoming NFL season.
Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp suggested that Aikman could potentially move to CBS, particularly amid the uncertainty surrounding Romo's absence and if JJ Watt does not solidify a top booth position.
This period of potential change mirrors the significant shifts in sports broadcasting five years ago, when Buck and Aikman left Fox for ESPN. At that time, Fox promoted Kevin Burkhardt and partnered him with Tom Brady, while Joe Davis took over as Fox's World Series announcer.
ESPN has also expressed interest in acquiring broadcast rights for the World Series beyond the next three years, which Fox will carry. Should ESPN secure those rights, Buck could potentially return to calling the Fall Classic. Other names mentioned as potential broadcasting additions include Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, both rumored to be considering broadcasting careers after their current roles conclude. Prime Video had previously shown interest in McVay before opting for Herbstreit. Kelce, at 36, has been widely considered a future broadcasting talent, and Fox's third analyst, Drew Brees, could also be a candidate for a prominent booth position.