As Buck prepares for ESPN's first Super Bowl, Aikman expresses frustration over lack of contract talks
Category: Sports
ESPN’s Joe Buck has agreed to a six-year, $108 million contract extension that will keep him as the voice of "Monday Night Football" (MNF) through the next decade, according to a report from *The Athletic* on September 16, 2026. The deal marks a substantial increase in Buck’s annual salary from $15 million to approximately $18 million.
This extension positions Buck to call ESPN’s first Super Bowl in February 2027, as well as the network’s subsequent Super Bowl in 2031. Buck, 57, transitioned to ESPN in 2022 after a lengthy career at Fox, where he called six Super Bowls and 23 World Series. His current partnership with Troy Aikman on MNF, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running booth partnership in NFL history.
As Buck celebrates his lucrative new deal, Aikman, whose contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, has yet to enter negotiations for his own extension. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback expressed his disappointment over the lack of communication from ESPN management since Buck’s contract was finalized. "I thought something would be done prior to the start of this season," Aikman stated during an appearance on the *Sports Media with Richard Deitsch* podcast. "I’ve never gone into the last year of a contract ever since I signed with the Dallas Cowboys. And so I thought it would be done. It’s not."
Aikman’s current contract, signed in 2022, is worth $90 million over five years, equating to $18 million annually. This places him among the highest-paid NFL analysts, alongside Buck and Tony Romo. Aikman’s contract situation is complicated by the fact that he and Buck are represented by the same talent agency, CAA, leading to speculation about whether Aikman will receive a similar deal to Buck’s.
The disparity in pay between play-by-play announcers like Buck and color commentators like Aikman has been a point of contention. Historically, game analysts have received higher salaries, especially since Tom Brady reset the market with a ten-year, $375 million deal at Fox in 2022. Aikman’s current salary is tied with Romo, but he may seek a raise that could bring him closer to Brady’s figures.
The relationship between ESPN and the NFL has significantly improved over the past decade, culminating in the league acquiring a 10% stake in the network. Aikman noted that his arrival at ESPN was partly motivated by a desire to help mend this relationship. He stated, "I came over in 2022 in large part to kind of help mend the relationship with ESPN and the NFL. I feel like the reason that I was brought over, I fulfilled whatever obligations they were expecting from me. So much so that the league now owns 10% of the network." This partnership has paved the way for ESPN to broadcast its first Super Bowl, a milestone that Buck and Aikman are set to achieve together.
As Buck prepares for this historic broadcast, Aikman remains in a precarious position. He has not engaged in any discussions with ESPN about his future since Buck’s contract was announced. "I’ve had no conversations with anyone from Bristol as far as what this means for me," Aikman explained. His uncertainty raises questions about the future of one of the most recognizable broadcasting duos in sports history.
Both Buck and Aikman have been calling NFL games together since 2002, making them the longest-tenured broadcast team in the league. Their chemistry and rapport have made them a favorite among fans, and Aikman has expressed a desire to continue working alongside Buck. "Would I like to continue working with Joe Buck moving down the road? One hundred percent," he affirmed. Yet, he acknowledged that the decision may not entirely rest in his hands, stating, "How much of that is my decision, I guess, is yet to be determined."
As the Super Bowl approaches, Aikman’s contract situation is becoming increasingly urgent. ESPN has publicly stated that it will not address talent contract specifics until after the Super Bowl on February 14, 2027. "With this historic season for ESPN now underway, our entire focus is on bringing fans the best possible football coverage, culminating with our first Super Bowl," said Josh Krulewitz, ESPN’s executive vice president of communications.
In the meantime, Aikman is focused on delivering high-quality broadcasts as he prepares for the upcoming Super Bowl. He remarked, "I’m excited to be calling another Super Bowl. It will have been eight years since we called one when we were always in that three-year rotation." Aikman’s experience and expertise in the booth are invaluable assets for ESPN, especially as the network aims to deliver a successful Super Bowl production.
The uncertainty surrounding Aikman’s future could have implications for ESPN’s broadcasting strategy moving forward. If Aikman and ESPN cannot come to an agreement, the network may seek other options, including younger analysts who could fill the void. As Aikman himself noted, "If ESPN can’t come to an agreement with Aikman, they could easily turn to 41-year-old Olsen, a proven No. 1 analyst who’s stuck behind Brady on the depth chart at Fox." With the stakes high for both Aikman and ESPN, the upcoming months will be telling for the future of this iconic broadcast duo.
As the season progresses, attention will turn to Aikman and Buck as they prepare for the highly anticipated Super Bowl LXI, marking a new chapter in their storied careers.