Tension rises between Buck and Aikman
Tension rises between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, lead broadcast team for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, may be headed for a breakup, about their partnership.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, the lead broadcast team for ESPN’s Monday Night Football, may be headed for a breakup. The pair took over coverage of Monday Night Football for the 2022 NFL season, but recent reports suggest tension between them.
According to a report from Front Office Sports, tension between Buck and Aikman recently escalated in the hours leading up to last Monday night’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills.
Part of the tension could be due to Aikman being on the cusp of free agency for next season. While ESPN reached a new six-year deal with Buck in September, Aikman remains without a contract for next year and beyond.
Front Office Sports reported that Buck “broke the ice” on the unspoken tension, and he and Aikman had an argument before the Rams-Bills game. The issue ultimately de-escalated, and the two had a broadcast that did not hint at any problems.
Aikman was asked about the situation during a radio spot in Dallas, and he said, “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.”
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Aikman also stated that he will broadcast through this season and then become a free agent, at which point he will “kind of see what happens” and consider his options, including potentially working with another network or moving into a front office role.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback currently serves in an advisory capacity with the Miami Dolphins and helped with the team’s recent general manager search, which could be a sign of his interest in a front office position.
Tony Romo’s departure from CBS Sports may have opened up a spot alongside Jim Nantz, although J.J. Watt has filled in well since Romo’s exit. Meanwhile, Greg Olsen is in the final year of his deal with FOX Sports, and according to industry insider Richard Deitsch, the two sides have not engaged in contract negotiations yet.
Aikman’s future plans remain uncertain, and it is possible that he could become another free agent in the broadcasting world after this season. They will have to wait and see what happens with his contract and what options he considers.
