Pat McAfee Denies Reports of Replacing Troy Aikman on 'Monday Night Football'

Pat McAfee has publicly dismissed speculation that he is being considered to replace Troy Aikman in the ESPN "Monday Night Football" broadcast booth. The comments come amid uncertainty surrounding Aikman's contract status with the network.

Responding to a Front Office Sports opinion piece that suggested McAfee could step in for Aikman, the host stated on X, "This isn’t real. Theres (sic) been zero conversation about this." McAfee currently hosts "Monday Night Football Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show" on ESPN2, an alternative broadcast to the main "Monday Night Football" telecast featuring Aikman and Joe Buck.

Aikman, a former NFL quarterback, is in the final year of his contract with ESPN. Meanwhile, his broadcast partner, Joe Buck, has recently signed an extension with the network. This disparity has fueled speculation that the long-standing broadcast duo might be nearing an end. Aikman and Buck have worked together since 2002, first at Fox and later at ESPN, becoming one of television's most recognized NFL announcing pairs.

McAfee joined ESPN under a significant contract, reportedly valued at over $60 million per year. The speculation about him potentially replacing Aikman arose partly due to his existing substantial deal with ESPN and the network's consideration of his alternative Super Bowl broadcast.

ESPN is scheduled to air the Super Bowl this year, which could mark the final broadcast for the Aikman-Buck pairing. While McAfee has firmly denied any discussions about him taking over Aikman's role, the future of Aikman's position remains unaddressed. Other potential candidates mentioned in speculation for Aikman's replacement include former NFL coach Sean McVay and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, should they pursue broadcasting opportunities.