The reported feud between Monday Night Football announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman remained a theme for viewers throughout the Dallas Cowboys’ 38-21 win over the rival Philadelphia Eagles.
‘Pure disdain from Aikman,’ one fan wrote of ESPN’s pre-game exchange, ‘he won’t even look at him.’
In fact, Aikman did look at Buck during their pre-game segment, but any levity the on-air duo once shared was noticeably absent on Monday in Philadelphia.
That iciness could have something to do with the death of ESPN’s David Moulton, Aikman’s spotter and right-hand man who passed away after a six-year cancer battle, but many viewers claimed to spot distinct tension in the booth.
‘Troy Aikman has never made so many look offs,’ long-time NFL reporter Jim Corbett wrote on X. ‘Made minimal eye contact with Joe Buck. And so the pot simmers on their feud and if they’ll even make it to the Super Bowl as a functional booth. ESPN has themselves to blame for creating unnecessary tension for a showcase event.’
Aikman and Buck are scheduled to call ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast this February, but their future beyond that game appears to be all but over. While Buck has reportedly re-signed with the Worldwide Leader, Aikman is a soon-to-be free agent, and that dynamic has reportedly impacted their chemistry.
Monday Night Football viewers incorrectly claimed Aikman refused to look at Buck in Philly
‘… millions of people know what’s going on and we can see the tension every time they show them,’ one fan wrote on X.
Neither Aikman nor Buck have addressed the reported feud publicly, although the former Cowboys quarterback did acknowledge his uncertain future in a recent interview.
‘As I’m into my last year at ESPN, I’m realizing that this is something that could very well be taken away from me,’ Aikman told Dallas Cowboys insider and YouTuber Mike Fisher. ‘For the first time, I’m realizing how much I really do – I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always known that. But until you risk having something taken away from you, I think sometimes you tend to maybe take things for granted.
‘And so, for the first time probably in my career, I’m realizing, you know, this is a great profession. It’s been a great ride for me, and I hope it’s not over. Time will tell. But, yeah. So, we’ll see. I’m excited about what the rest of this year holds, and I’m excited to finally get back into the booth for a Super Bowl.’
Troy Aikman is now in the final season of his ESPN deal, but even amid reported tension with broadcast partner Joe Buck, the 59-year-old doesn’t sound like he’s ready to leave the booth
The three-time Super Bowl champion and former Cowboys quarterback hinted last week that talks over a new deal had stalled, and a source recently told the Daily Mail that Aikman now sees the ‘writing is on the wall.’
While Aikman has little certainty over his future at ESPN, Buck has signed an extension with the Worldwide Leader for a reported $108 million over the next six years, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand.
That deal is at the center of the reported feud between a duo that has been working together since their days at Fox in 2002. A source told Puck’s Dylan Byers that Buck ‘finally snapped’ after weeks of ‘Troy becoming increasingly cold, difficult, short, making comments.’
‘He basically said, ‘Dude, are we really going to do this?’ And Troy’s position was: ‘You f***ed me over!’ the source said.
Buck reportedly offered an apology to the crew, including Aikman, for his role in the confrontation, telling colleagues: ‘We’re all adults, we’ve all got jobs to do, let’s move forward, let’s have a great year.’
That year will end in 2027 when ESPN broadcasts the Super Bowl on its airwaves for the first time in the network’s history.
Separating the pair would mean the end to a 24-year broadcasting partnership which began at Fox Sports before migrating to ESPN.
While Buck will stick around for the years to come, Aikman’s future has not been set. According to reports, Aikman viewed Buck’s secret contract as the ‘ultimate act of betrayal.’
‘They cut this deal in May and put it in a drawer. ESPN didn’t tell him, Joe didn’t tell him. Even [talent agency] CAA didn’t tell him,’ another source told Puck.
In September, Aikman told the ‘Sports Media with Richard Deitsch’ podcast that he was surprised his own contract wasn’t confirmed before the season began.
Aikman (right) was quick to mention his brewery, Eight Beer, to Fisher (left), which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who saw the pair wearing branded hats on the podcast
Although Buck (right) is not an investor in Eight Beer, Aikman’s long-time on-air partner did partake in several ads for the company that remain posted on the brand’s Instagram page
However, he seems to suggest the future lies elsewhere, telling Jimmy Traina last week that a divorce ‘just seems to be where they’re going’
As for what’s next, Aikman suggested he could continue working in NFL front offices, as he recently did in an advisory role with the Miami Dolphins. He also mentioned focusing on his new brewery, Eight Beer, which wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who saw both Aikman and Fisher wearing branded hats during the YouTube interview.
‘I’m still young. I feel great,’ Aikman said. ‘I do feel there’s another frontier. Maybe that’s Eight Beer. Maybe that’s what that is.
‘Maybe it’s a continuation of broadcasting with some other network, which would be exciting to me. Maybe it’s doing some work with an organization. I really enjoyed the time that I spent with the Miami Dolphins this past offseason. Maybe there could be something there if nothing comes about in broadcasting.’
Although Buck is not an investor, Aikman’s long-time on-air partner did partake in several ads for the company that remain posted on the brand’s Instagram page.
