Snake Move,’ ‘Terrible Look’ — NFL Fans Raise an Issue With Joe Buck Inking New $108M ESPN Deal Without Troy Aikman, Leading to Rumored Booth Argument
· Yahoo Sports
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have been calling NFL games together for years, so the questions surrounding their partnership are about more than who continues their job at ESPN. Buck has secured his future with the network, while Aikman is approaching the end of his current contract without a new deal in place.
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This difference has raised questions about where things stand between the longtime broadcast partners, especially after reports of a tense exchange before a recent Monday Night Football game.
Joe Buck’s $108M ESPN Deal Fuels Troy Aikman Rift Rumors
Buck reportedly signed a six-year, $108 million extension with ESPN in September, raising his annual salary from $15 million to $18 million and keeping him with the network through 2032.
The agreement also positions him to call ESPN and ABC’s Super Bowl broadcasts in 2027 and 2031. Aikman, however, has all but confirmed he will become a free agent when his current deal expires at the end of the season.
Speaking on “The Musers,” Aikman said he would finish the season before considering his next move. His comments came amid reports of a pregame argument with Buck before the Monday Night Football matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.
Per multiple reports, Aikman’s five-year, $90 million contract has not received a formal extension offer, fueling speculation about the future of the broadcast duo.
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Analyst Ian Cameron pointed to how the partnership began at ESPN, writing, “Joe Buck went ahead and got his new deal with ESPN but didn’t look to make sure his pal Troy Aikman got a long-term deal too, and Troy is the one that made sure ESPN got Joe to join him for MNF before Troy signed at ESPN years ago.
“Troy had Joe’s back, but Joe recently not having his might be the cause of this rift between them.”
Cameron then offered a possible explanation for Aikman’s frustration, writing, “I think from Troy’s perspective, I stuck out my neck to get you in here to ESPN with MNF years ago. Why can’t you return the favor? That is probably what he feels.”
Michael Avenatti also criticized the situation,writing, “Letting Troy Aikman walk out the door is bad for ESPN, bad for NFL, and a terrible look for Buck (who should have had his back). There is no doubt that if the tables were turned, Aikman would have remained loyal and made it a package deal.”
Other reactions focused on the reported lack of communication between the longtime partners. One fan wrote, “That’s a snake move. Talk to your partner before doing this.”
Journalist Scot Bertram questioned whether the dispute could extend beyond their professional relationship, writing, “Certainly sounds like Aikman is done at ESPN and so might be a long-term friendship with Buck.”
Another fan summed up the frustration over their 25-year partnership, writing, “Joe Buck got his payday and left Troy Aikman hanging. 25 years in the booth together. Troy helped get him to ESPN in the first place… the second Buck locked in his $100M+ extension, the “loyalty” disappeared. Troy deserves better than a partner who’s only looking out for himself.”
That part, however, remains speculation.
For now, Aikman has committed to finishing the season, but his next move remains uncertain. “I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this year does hold, and with the Super Bowl and all that, and where my next landing spot might be,” he said.
Whether the reported tension affects the duo’s future together at ESPN is still unclear.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.