Troy Aikman’s fractured relationship with broadcast partner Joe Buck had reportedly been deteriorating for years before their in-booth confrontation in Los Angeles earlier this month.
That argument was first reported by Front Office Sports and later confirmed by The Daily Mail. Now, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand is reporting new details about the heated spat, which reportedly began with Buck confronting his broadcast partner over some perceived friction.
‘You are not going to f***ing talk to me?’ Buck reportedly asked Aikman, who was said to be simmering over stalled contract talks with ESPN at the time. ‘I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.’
Four years earlier, Buck had followed Aikman from Fox to ESPN to take over the MNF booth, costing ESPN $165 million in total contracts at the time. Those deals were scheduled to come to an end after the network airs its first Super Bowl this February from SoFi Stadium, where the duo was suddenly airing their considerable grievances on October 12.
The problem, according to The Athletic, was Buck’s lucrative contract extension with ESPN, which was previously reported to be valued at $108 million over six years. Aikman, meanwhile, still hasn’t received an extension, and reportedly believed Buck held some responsibility for this slight.
The confrontation came after years of turnover within the MNF booth, hirings and firings the pair blamed on each other; sources told The Athletic. Whereas Buck felt ESPN fired staff that angered the occasionally irascible Aikman, the Dallas Cowboys legend saw his contract situation as another example of Buck’s secretive meddling.
Troy Aikman’s fractured relationship with broadcast partner Joe Buck had been deteriorating for years before their in-booth confrontation in Los Angeles earlier this month
‘I just never thought you’d do it to me,’ Aikman, 59, reportedly told the 57-year-old Buck, whom he’s worked with since 2002.
Buck, a decorated announcer and son of legendary St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck, reportedly framed the problem as a lack of professionalism on Aikman’s part.
‘They got rid of [the producers] because you were screaming at them,’ Buck told Aikman, according to The Athletic.
This confrontation wasn’t a complete surprise. Producers reportedly noticed tension between the two for years, sources told Marchand. And as Aikman reportedly told his former Fox Sports colleagues at an event in 2025: ‘In case anyone is wondering, the grass isn’t always greener.’
The comment appeared to be a reference to his ongoing tenure at ESPN.
Even moments before this month’s in-booth confrontation, Aikman was reportedly talking with network chairman Jimmy Pitaro about his working relationship with Buck. Asked if he was capable of continuing to call games with his long-time partner, Aikman told Pitaro he could, The Athletic reported.
Regardless, according to Marchand, there is an obvious pending divorce between Aikman and Buck, and ESPN has clearly sided with the latter.
The Daily Mail has sought comment from Buck and Aikman’s respective agents at CAA, as well as ESPN spokespeople.
Even moments before the in-booth confrontation, Aikman was talking with network chairman Jimmy Pitaro (pictured) about his relationship Buck, who he agreed to continue working with
As first reported by Puck, Aikman was initially seeking a contract valued around $30 million per season. But even after Aikman dropped his asking price down to $18 million per year, ESPN remained uninterested, according to The Athletic.
For comparison, Tom Brady is getting a reported $37.5 million per season with Fox, while Tony Romo was making $18 million annually before leaving CBS in the wake of his DUI arrest.
Sources with knowledge of the network’s thinking told The Athletic it doesn’t make sense to negotiate with Aikman now at a time when the cable giant is laying off on-air talent.
Furthermore, The Athletic reported that ESPN feels there is a deep talent pool of color commentators; and although ex-Panthers tight end and current Fox broadcaster Greg Olsen wasn’t named by sources, Marchand noted his popularity among network insiders.
As for the fallout from the fight, Puck reported that Buck issued an apology to the entire crew, including Aikman: ‘We’re all adults, we’ve all got jobs to do, let’s move forward, let’s have a great year.’
ESPN’s Troy Aikman was seen choking back tears as he and broadcast partner Joe Buck addressed the passing of their Monday Night Football colleague, David Moulton
Moulton worked as a network spotter and Aikman’s right-hand man during MNF broadcasts, typically tracking down pertinent information and seamlessly relaying it to the booth
The off-air feud has been impacting ESPN’s MNF booth when the production crew is dealing with the loss of David Moulton.
The 60-year-old worked as a network spotter and Aikman’s right-hand man during MNF broadcasts, typically tracking down pertinent information and seamlessly relaying it to the booth. Moulton had been battling renal cell cancer for the better part of the last six years, his wife, Julie, told the Fort Myers News-Press.
‘He was a fighter right up until the end,’ Aikman said during Monday’s Eagles-Cowboys game in Philadelphia before choking back tears. ‘I’m sorry… He left a hole in a lot of people’s hearts. Just a good man.’
Buck responded solemnly.
‘He is missed up here, and well said,’ Buck told Aikman.
