Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman's ESPN feud raises questions about their future
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman called ESPN’s Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
A photo taken before kickoff showed them seated at opposite ends of the booth, though they later sat together for the broadcast opening.
The longtime partners joined ESPN in 2022 after working together at Fox.
Their relationship reportedly soured over contract negotiations after Buck signed an ESPN extension that Aikman did not know about.
Aikman has not received an extension, and he is approaching free agency.
The pair have continued calling games professionally, despite a reported argument in the booth last month.
They are still scheduled to call ESPN’s first Super Bowl in February 2027, but their partnership beyond that game appears uncertain.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman’s reported dispute over contracts and communication has cast doubt on their future as ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast partners.
The pair are still scheduled to call ESPN’s first Super Bowl on Feb. 14, 2027.
Buck reportedly signed an ESPN extension without telling Aikman, whose own contract negotiations have stalled.
A reported confrontation in the broadcast booth took place before a game on Oct. 12.
The two have continued to call games professionally, and one report put the chance Aikman misses the Super Bowl broadcast at 5%.
- Who
- ESPN Monday Night Football announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
- What
- Their reported dispute over contracts and communication has raised questions about whether they will continue working together.
- When
- The disagreement became public in reports about a confrontation on Oct. 12; the story was updated Nov. 2, 2026.
- Where
- The reported confrontation took place in the broadcast booth before a game in Los Angeles. The pair later called the Seahawks-Bears game in Seattle.
- Why
- Reports say Aikman felt betrayed after learning Buck had signed an ESPN extension without telling him, while Aikman’s own contract talks had stalled.
Joe Buck
Troy Aikman
Contract responsibility
Joe Buck
Buck reportedly told Aikman, “I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.
Troy Aikman
Aikman reportedly felt Buck had withheld news of his extension and held some responsibility for his stalled contract talks.
Communication
Joe Buck
Buck reportedly confronted Aikman about not talking to him.
Troy Aikman
Aikman reportedly replied, “I just never thought you’d do it to me.
Buck and Aikman joined ESPN on five-year deals.
Buck’s ESPN extension was reportedly finalized.
Reports said Aikman learned of Buck’s extension and felt betrayed.
Buck and Aikman reportedly argued in the booth before calling the Rams-Bills game.
The pair called the Seahawks-Bears game in Seattle.
- Network
- ESPN
- Program
- Monday Night Football
- Contract situation
- Buck reportedly signed an extension; Aikman’s talks with ESPN had stalled
- Reported confrontation
- Oct. 12, 2026, before Rams-Bills
- Super Bowl assignment
- ESPN’s first Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027
- Chance Aikman misses Super Bowl broadcast
- 5%, according to Andrew Marchand
5 sources
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman's public ESPN feud deepens... as awkward photo emerges of pair avoiding each other in the booth
ESPN's Joe Buck, Troy Aikman headed for split. What we know about broadcasters' feud
‘I never thought you’d do it to me’: Inside Troy Aikman and Joe Buck’s ESPN unraveling - The Athletic
Marchand: 5% chance Troy Aikman does not call Super Bowl with Joe Buck in February
What people are saying
I’ll put that at 95% he does it, 5% he doesn’t
You are not going to (expletive) talk to me?
I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract
I just never thought you’d do it to me.