ESPN allowing Troy Aikman to walk away from Joe Buck booth would make no sense | Bobby Burack
Fox News • • sports
Key Points:
- Joe Buck recently signed a $100 million extension with ESPN, but Troy Aikman, his longtime broadcast partner, is not close to a new agreement with the network despite their 25-year partnership.
- Aikman revealed ESPN has not initiated contract talks with him, and with his current deal expiring in 2027, he hinted that leaving ESPN might be the likely outcome.
- Industry speculation includes theories that ESPN wants to replace Aikman with new talent like the Manning brothers, the Kelce brothers, or Greg Olsen, though none of these options currently match Aikman’s experience and chemistry with Buck.
- ESPN has struggled to find a stable and well-received Monday Night Football booth over the past several years, but the Buck-Aikman pairing since 2022 has been widely praised, making the potential breakup of the duo puzzling.
- There is skepticism about ESPN’s motives, as no negotiations with Aikman have reportedly taken place, suggesting the network may have decided not to retain him or remains uncertain about his future despite securing Buck’s extension.
