Voltar
The tension between ESPN’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman is of “no concern” to the NFL ahead of what could be an awkward run-up to the Super Bowl, it's been claimed.
Having worked alongside each other for two decades in the booth for FOX, both Buck and Aikman moved over to ESPN in 2022 to become the voices of 'Monday Night Football'. While they have come in for their fair share of criticism over the years, the pair - the longest-tenured broadcasting team in football - represent one of the game’s best announcing duos.
Buck cashed in on his success, recently agreeing to a new six-year deal worth over $100 million to remain with ESPN. However, Aikman’s future is up in the air, and his contract is set to expire come the end of the 2026 NFL season, culminating with the ESPN Super Bowl broadcast from Los Angeles.
Amid the tension regarding their differing contract situations, it has been reported that a rift has opened between the longtime announcing partners, with Buck and Aikman allegedly arguing before calling the Buffalo Bills' win over the Los Angeles Rams earlier this month. According to Front Office Sports, Buck attempted to break the ice with Aikman on contract talks ahead of kickoff, which led to an “argument” before things “ultimately de-escalated.”
Buck and Aikman went on to call the game and took part in their second broadcast on Monday Night Football’s San Francisco 49ers win over the Washington Commanders. Many fans believed the tension was evident throughout the game, but the NFL remained calm about the situation.
When asked how the NFL is viewing the potential clash between Buck and Aikman, the league’s EVP and Chief Media Officer, Hans Schroeder, said: “No concern. I don’t know if you watched the game on Monday night. It was an incredible game, right? It was an incredible game and incredible coverage by Joe and Troy, just like they always do.
“And, by the way, also, there are so many other ways that Disney covered that game. It was the first real [Pat] McAfee launch, too, adding to that experience. So, look, that’s something… that we’re really not involved with.
“I think the fans are deserving of first-class game production, which Joe and Troy have, I think, going back to ’02 or something, was their first year, a history of doing that as well as anyone. And I think you’ll continue to see them do that as well as anyone. I thought it was awesome Monday night.
“And so we’re incredibly excited about the year… and the Super Bowl and their coverage and getting them back as far as ESPN’s first ever and ABC’s in a long time. They’re going to do an unbelievable job.”
Aikman has recently spoken out about his future, insisting he is excited to see what lies ahead. The Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium could be the final game he calls alongside Buck, signaling the end of an era.
“There's probably a time and a place for all that. I don't know if now is the time. I don't know if it's hard to figure out kind of what happened,” said Aikman.
“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. I'm looking forward to whatever the rest of this season does hold and the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot may be.”
Aikman and Buck will be on the call for Monday Night Football in Week 7, when the Dallas Cowboys travel to the Philadelphia Eagles for an NFC East showdown on Oct. 26.