Troy Aikman Says He's Leaving ESPN, Will Be Free Agent After Super Bowl
Troy Aikman says he is leaving ESPN after this season.
The lead NFL analyst told Dallas radio station KTCK on Thursday morning, Oct. 15, that he will call games through the end of the year and then become a free agent, meaning he will be out of contract and free to sign anywhere. He said he is looking for his “next landing spot” with his current deal set to expire after February’s Super Bowl, according to The Guardian.
Aikman is working in the final year of a five-year deal worth $18 million a year. That contract runs through the Super Bowl on Feb. 14, 2027, which is set to be his final ESPN broadcast alongside his longtime partner. Previous reporting noted he had not received a formal offer to stay beyond that game.
His partner is staying. Joe Buck, who has shared the booth with Aikman for 25 years, has finalized a six-year extension worth more than $100 million. That deal keeps Buck at ESPN through the network’s next Super Bowl broadcast in 2031.
The gap in their contract situations has drawn attention. Reports this week said Aikman and Buck argued in the booth ahead of the broadcast of Monday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, as detailed by Front Office Sports. Another account said Buck raised the unspoken tension first, sparking an argument that cooled down before kickoff, per Yahoo Sports.
Aikman addressed the reports directly on KTCK’s The Ticket. “There’s probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed,” he said. The station published its own recap of the interview on Oct. 15 under the headline “Troy Aikman acknowledges Joe Buck rift: ‘I’ll be a free agent.’”
For fans, this means a familiar voice will change channels. On TV, Buck handles play-by-play, describing each snap as it happens, while Aikman provides the analysis, explaining why a play worked or broke down. Viewers will still hear them together through Feb. 14, including the rest of the regular season, the playoffs and the Super Bowl, football’s championship game.
After that, Aikman shops. Buck stays. ESPN has to decide on its next lead analyst.
