Sports · American Football · 5 hrs ago
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly argued over future contract uncertainty
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly argued in the broadcast booth before calling an NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.
The disagreement reportedly de-escalated before the broadcast, and the pair showed no noticeable signs of tension on air.
Buck and Aikman have worked together since 2002 and joined ESPN in 2022 to call Monday Night Football.
Buck is set to continue with ESPN into the 2030s, but Aikman’s five-year contract ends after this season and he says he has not discussed an extension with the network.
Aikman has said he wants to keep working with Buck, so uncertainty over his contract may affect their partnership.
They are due to call ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast at the end of this season, and their next assignment is the San Francisco 49ers against the Washington Commanders.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly argued before calling a Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.
The argument reportedly de-escalated, and the pair called the game without noticeable signs of tension.
The reported strain was linked to uncertainty over Aikman’s future contract with ESPN, while Buck’s role is secured into the 2030s.
Aikman’s five-year, $90 million contract ends after this season, and he has said he has not discussed an extension with ESPN.
The longtime partners joined ESPN in 2022 after leaving Fox.
- Who
- ESPN commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
- What
- They reportedly argued over uncertainty about Aikman’s future contract.
- When
- Before a Monday Night Football game in October 2026. The exact date of the reported argument is not stated.
- Where
- In the broadcast booth.
- Why
- The reports linked the tension to different levels of certainty about their future contracts with ESPN.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Buck and Aikman left Fox and joined ESPN.
Buck and Aikman began their 25th season together on Monday Night Football, calling the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Denver Broncos.
Aikman said on a podcast that he had expected his contract situation to be resolved before the season.
Buck reportedly raised the unspoken tension, and the pair argued.
The argument reportedly de-escalated before Buck and Aikman called the game.
- Buck’s ESPN role
- Voice of Monday Night Football into the 2030s
- Aikman’s contract
- Five years, $90 million; ends after this season
- Buck’s reported deal
- $108 million in total; annual salary rising from $15 million to $18 million
- ESPN start
- Both joined in the 2022 offseason
- Commentary partnership
- Together since 2002; now in their 25th season
2 sources
What people are saying
I thought something would be done prior to the start of this season.
When it might get done, if it gets done, is anybody's guess, and it's just not something that I'm really putting a lot of energy into.
Would I like to continue working with Joe Buck moving down the road? 100 percent.