Troy Aikman's Future at ESPN Uncertain Amid Broadcast Shifts
With J.J. Watt joining CBS and Joe Buck securing a long-term ESPN deal, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman's options for next season appear limited to Amazon, Netflix, or a front-office role.
CBS announced that J.J. Watt will replace Tony Romo on its lead NFL broadcast team with Jim Nantz, narrowing the pool of potential destinations for Troy Aikman if he departs ESPN after the current season.
Front Office Sports reported that tension has existed between Aikman and Joe Buck since The Athletic revealed Buck's six-year, $100 million extension with ESPN, while Aikman has not received a formal offer to return. The two reportedly argued in the Monday Night Football booth before a Rams-Bills overtime game, though the incident did not affect the broadcast.
Aikman, regarded as a top color commentator, faces limited options as Tom Brady and Cris Collinsworth are already under multi-year contracts with Fox and NBC. Amazon Prime Video remains the only full-time NFL package without a locked-in analyst, and the streamer has a tentative arrangement with Kirk Herbstreit that could include annual opt-outs. A partnership with Amazon’s NBA play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle has been suggested as a way to elevate the platform's NFL coverage.
Netflix, which airs a small slate of five marquee games each season, could also be a possibility; its current lead team features Luke Kuechly and Noah Eagle.
In addition to on-air roles, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated at recent NFL owners meetings that he would support Aikman in a front-office leadership position if the former quarterback chooses that path.
"Troy is very capable," Jones said. "He’s in his youth as careers go and could do any number of things related to football. I don’t know of any area, short of getting back out on the field, that Troy Aikman wouldn’t be qualified and competent to go into."