Troy Aikman, ESPN’s longtime Monday Night Football analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback, says he is preparing to become a free agent after this season, raising questions about his future with the network and his 25-year broadcasting partnership with Joe Buck.
Aikman, 59, is entering the final months of a five-year ESPN contract worth approximately $18 million annually. His agreement expires following the network’s broadcast of Super Bowl LXI in February 2027.
“I’ll broadcast through this season, and I’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and kind of see what happens,” Aikman said Thursday during an interview with Dallas sports radio station KTCK.
His comments follow reports of tension between Aikman and Buck over their respective contract situations.
Buck recently signed a six-year extension with ESPN reportedly worth more than $100 million, securing his position with the network through its next Super Bowl broadcast in 2031. Aikman, meanwhile, has not announced a new agreement.
According to Front Office Sports, the two broadcasters had an argument before Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams. The reported disagreement centered on their contract situations.
Asked about the incident, Aikman did not directly deny the report.
“There’s probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed,” he said. “I don’t know if now is the time. I don’t know that it’s hard to figure out kind of what’s happened.”
Aikman and Buck have worked together since 2002, initially becoming Fox Sports’ lead NFL broadcasting team before moving to ESPN in 2022.
Their arrival was a major investment by ESPN as the network sought to establish a consistent announcing team for its flagship NFL broadcast.
Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys, has become one of the highest-paid analysts in sports television. His current agreement places him among a small group of former NFL players commanding eight-figure annual broadcasting salaries.
If Aikman leaves ESPN, he could pursue opportunities with competing television networks or streaming services seeking experienced NFL broadcasters.
A move into NFL team management is another possibility. Aikman has previously expressed interest in football operations and has maintained relationships with executives and ownership groups throughout the league.
His potential departure would leave ESPN searching for a replacement alongside Buck, whose new agreement ensures his continued presence on Monday Night Football.
For now, Aikman said he intends to finish the season, including ESPN’s February Super Bowl broadcast, before determining his next move.
“I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this season does hold, with the Super Bowl and all that, and where my next landing spot might be,” he said.