Aikman says he will remain a free agent after season amid reported contract talks with Buck
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman said he will finish the season as a free agent and will consider future opportunities after his contract with ESPN expires, following reports of a dispute with co-host Joe Buck.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly exchanged remarks in the Monday Night Football booth at SoFi Stadium before the Los Angeles Rams-Buffalo Bills game, according to Front Office Sports. The exchange was linked to reports that Buck recently secured a six-year, $100 million extension with ESPN, while Aikman has not yet received a new contract offer.
Aikman told radio station 96.7 The Ticket that he will continue broadcasting through the season and will become a free agent at its conclusion. He added, "> There's probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed. 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. 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 year does hold with the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot might be."
The pair have been the longest-tenured commentary team in NFL history, having moved from Fox to ESPN in 2022. While Buck's new deal includes rights to call the Super Bowl through 2031, Aikman's contract status remains unresolved, leaving open the possibility of a change in broadcast partners after the season.