Troy Aikman Still Awaiting ESPN Contract Talks Amid Joe Buck's Mega Deal
The former Cowboys star expressed surprise that discussions haven't begun regarding his future with the network.
Troy Aikman has not yet engaged in contract discussions with ESPN concerning his future with the network, despite his broadcast partner Joe Buck recently signing a significant contract extension. Aikman, whose current deal is set to expire after this season, stated he "had no conversations with anyone from Bristol" about the implications of Buck's new megadeal.
Speaking on the "Sports Media with Richard Deitsch" podcast, Aikman shared his expectation that an agreement would have been reached prior to the start of the current NFL season. "I thought something would be done prior to the start of this season," Aikman said. "I’ve never gone into a last year of a contract ever since I signed with the Dallas Cowboys. So I thought that it would be done."
Aikman acknowledged that the timeline for resolving his contract situation, or if it will be resolved at all, remains uncertain. "It’s not. When it might get done, if it gets done, is anybody’s guess, and it’s just not something that I’m really putting a lot of energy into," he added.
The broadcast partnership between Aikman and Buck is one of the longest-standing in the NFL. Their collaboration began in 2002 at Fox and continued when both joined ESPN in 2022. Buck recently signed a six-year contract extension with ESPN, reportedly worth over $100 million.
While Aikman emphasized that his broadcast partner is a significant factor in his career decisions, he also indicated that the continuation of their partnership is not the sole determinant of his future. "How much of that is my decision, I guess is yet to be determined," Aikman said. "Would I like to continue working with Joe Buck moving down the road? 100 percent."
The pair are scheduled to call the Week 2 "Monday Night Football" game between the Giants and the Rams in Los Angeles. ESPN is set to broadcast a Super Bowl for the first time this season, with Aikman's contract status adding a layer of uncertainty to their broadcast booth for future high-profile games.