Troy Aikman on his move to ESPN, leaving Fox and working with Joe Buck (2024)

If you want a little behind-the-scenes of how Troy Aikman learned that Joe Buck would remain his NFL on-air partner for the next five years, Aikman is happy to provide it. Buck called Aikman on March 11 to tell him that he was heading to ESPN, and during the call, Aikman’s phone started blowing up. Aikman wondered: What exactly is going on here?

He soon learned why. As he was talking to Joe Buck, Michelle Beisner-Buck, an ESPN reporter and the wife of Joe, had just posted a note on Instagram saying how proud she was that Buck and Aikman would be the new voices of Monday Night Football.

“Michelle posted her post while I was talking to Joe,” Aikman said, laughing. “Joe had called me after he got a call from [Fox Sports CEO] Eric Shanks to tell him that they had reached an agreement with ESPN and Fox was going to let Joe out [of his contract early]. It was a great day. Joe and I have always been close. It’s not just a professional relationship. We’ve been through a lot of life experiences around the same time. We both have two daughters, though his are a little bit older. He has literally watched my girls grow up. We’ve been working together for 20 years. My oldest daughter is 20 years old. My other daughter is 19. I’ve watched his girls grow up into these beautiful women they’ve become. But this experience has made us even closer.

“We told each other how much we valued each other, and it was obvious to him that I wanted to continue to work with him. It was obvious to me that he wanted to continue to work with me. This for us has validated all of the things that we’ve thought about each other over the years.”

By now you know that Buck and Aikman, who called games at Fox together for 20 NFL seasons, have signed multiyear agreements to join ESPN as the new voices for Monday Night Football. The company made the formal announcement last week. Both signed for five years, which takes them through Super Bowl LXI, which will be the first Super Bowl for ABC/ESPN under the rights agreement ESPN signed with the league in 2021.

Aikman’s first ESPN outing will be ESPN’s annual Upfront presentation in New York City in May for media buyers, where the company presents all its new initiatives to get Madison Avenue to part with its money. His contract is $90 million over five years — there were reports, including from me, that had it at $92.5 million, but the final number will be $18 million annually. Tony Romo is in the same area code at $17.5 million annually, with additional money for Romo (who has a traveling editorial assistant and spotter) that brings it up to around $18 million annually.

In a 45-minute interview with The Athletic on Monday, Aikman discussed his thoughts on moving to ESPN, leaving Fox and other topics. He said he will be doing things at ESPN beyond Monday Night Football, but those things will be determined in the future. That could include being a producer of projects for ESPN+, though Aikman said producing is more in alignment with Buck’s goals. ESPN’s new MNF team will make its regular-season debut Sept. 12.

Aikman said he would not describe ESPN as recruiting him. He said he only spoke to ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro once an agreement had been made. (Obviously, agents handle the negotiations with direction from clients.)

“I’m thrilled to be doing this with ESPN,” Aikman said. “I know we’re in the honeymoon phase, but from Jimmy Pitaro all the way down, all the people I’ve come in contact with, everyone has been fantastic. I’m really excited about it.”

“For the longest time it looked like I was either going to be exclusively with Fox, or doing a split schedule with Fox and Amazon,” Aikman continued. “There were conversations that were taking place with both Fox and Amazon trying to figure out — OK, how do we (get) this to where it works? Then ESPN got involved. Conversations were going on with Amazon during the football season. ESPN came into the picture very late, like right around the Super Bowl. I will say Amazon was amazing, great to work with. They’re going to be an awesome partner for the NFL. … But the attraction for ESPN was Monday Night Football. That’s a big deal in itself. Then there’s the opportunity to continue to do playoff games and still be in the Super Bowl rotation. The thought of no longer doing those games would have been disappointing.”

Fox Sports wanted to keep Buck. There’s no spin on that. Shanks and executive producer Brad Zager even flew to St. Louis to meet with Buck in person. But to the company’s credit, they allowed him to get out of his contract so he could come to an agreement in principle with ESPN. Both sides have always spoken highly of one another and the separation here was not contentious.

Aikman’s separation has far more edge to it, but he did not bash his previous employer. Aikman said that there was a difference of opinion as to where the market was for an analyst of his standing. Clearly, ESPN felt that Aikman was worthy of the current market rate based on Romo’s contract. Aikman potentially could have made more at Amazon than ESPN, per sources, but the contract negotiations with Amazon never got to the point where Amazon was presented with the number ESPN landed on for Aikman.

As I wrote last week, while Buck and Aikman leaving will be jarring for Fox Sports viewers and staffers, the network has a great opportunity to set itself up for the next decade at the play-by-play position. Kevin Burkhardt is 48 years old. Joe Davis (who all indications are will be the next voice of the World Series) is 34. Adam Amin is 35. Promotions for Davis, Burkhardt and Amin — and the likelihood of contract extensions for each — would be an easy and logical step to make each feel valued, especially in a universe where those talents are seeing the crazy dollar figures being given out by ESPN. You can also send a message into the marketplace that you are starting the next evolution of Fox Sports’ NFL and MLB coverage. It would seem almost inconceivable that Burkhardt will not be promoted to Buck’s spot on the NFL. When that comes is really the only question at this point, and the formal announcement could be as soon as next month.

Aikman said he had negotiated an opt-out in his last contract which gave him the right to be a free agent this year. His announcing crew knew about that opt-out option, which was negotiated to give Aikman flexibility to not call both Thursday Night Football and the Sunday schedule. He said that Romo’s contract was not the market value he gave Fox for retaining him, so one can infer that he would have signed for less. He termed it disappointing that he did not hear from Shanks about his contract.

“I never had a conversation with Eric Shanks about my contract or future,” Aikman said. “The only conversation I had with him was when he called to congratulate me on the ESPN contract. Look, I understand it’s a business. I’m totally fine with that. There was never hard feelings about any of it. I understand cost structure. I understand expenses. I understand when you draw a line and say this is kind of our position, whatever it might be. But that’s communicated. Instead, there was no communication. I think that’s the disappointing part, after 21 years with the network, that I didn’t even so much as get a phone call. Even if the conversation was, ‘Hey Troy, we know you have an opportunity to leave. We’d hate to see you go. But our position is that this is what we’re paying you. We feel that’s fair. And if you don’t, then we understand and we’ve really enjoyed having you.’ I don’t mind somebody saying, Hey, look, we’re not willing to do something. But the fact that there was never a conversation, I would characterize it as disappointing.”

Aikman called his Fox NFL crew an extension of his family. He was asked if he’s interested in who will replace him and Buck.

“If it’s Greg Olsen, then he gets an opportunity much like I did after one season of being the No. 2 guy stepping into the No. 1 booth, “ Aikman said. “There’s a lot of excitement that comes with that. He going to get the best games and playoff games and to have two of the next three Super Bowls, that’s big as well.”

Aikman said he felt the broadcasts he and Buck did on Thursday night for Fox had more of a looseness in tone than the Sunday afternoon games. It was something he liked. He and his new ESPN producer and director — Phil Dean and Jimmy Platt — will be meeting in person in May to start to chart a path forward.

“I believe that’ll be the case with Monday night too,” Aikman said of a looser broadcast. “The Monday night broadcast is a little bit of a different broadcast feel than a Sunday afternoon game. The people that are watching it aren’t necessarily hardcore football fans, not that everyone who watches on Sunday is either. But I do think that the broadcast will be a little bit different.

“I’ve only had one producer in 21 years and Joe’s had one in football for the last 20. I have loved working with [Fox producer] Richie Zyontz the last 21 years. I’m sure that he’s looking forward to maybe working with a different analyst and seeing how someone else looks at the game. I’m looking forward to hearing from Phil Dean what makes a great broadcast. I think those conversations are going to be exciting.”

On the issue of the Peyton and Eli Manning Megacast, Aikman said he does not consider them his competition. Aikman said he and Peyton Manning have been friends for years.

“I watched their show and I’ve loved it when I’ve watched it,” Aikman said. “But I watch the game more just because I could follow the game better. I think they bring something obviously that’s unique and different from any broadcast. They’ve got more leeway and freedom, which is a great alternative for people. My guess is they’re probably attracting people to Monday Night Football that otherwise wouldn’t be watching football. So I don’t view them as a competitor.”

Aikman had previously told me that he thought about stepping away from broadcasting at 60. The timeframe has now changed. “Five years ago that number might have been 60,” Aikman said. “But now that I’m 55 and I’d say, “Yeah, I don’t know if I’d be ready to be done at 60.” That’s not that far off. Right now I’d say I’d like to do it until I’m 65 and then I’ll revisit it.”

Aikman stressed that he was thrilled with the opportunity to start a new broadcast adventure with Buck.

“I’m not upset with anybody,” Aikman said. “I’m not upset with Shanks, for that matter. I’ve kind of gotten over any grudges I’ve ever had in my life. I leave this with a lot of great feelings. I got amazing friendships and I still think of Shanks as a friend. Maybe someday he’ll have the conversation with me.

“What Joe and I both wanted was to be able to do this,” he continued. “It didn’t look like that would happen. … There was also talk about me working with Al Michaels and I would have loved to have worked with Al at ESPN. I took the leap of faith and said, ‘OK, I’ll work with Al and if by chance Joe can get out of his contract, then I’ll work with Joe. That would be amazing.’ So I can’t tell you how excited I am that it worked out as it did.”

The Ink Report

1. John Clayton,the Hall of Fame NFL writer, passed away last week at 67. It was a tribute to how impactful and thoughtful he was that his legacy was covered across the media spectrum, includingthe Seattle Times, the New York Times,ESPN, and People Magazine. He was hired by ESPN in 1995 (and foolishly let go in 2017) after a distinguished career in Seattle and became a regular watch for NFL viewers of the cable giant. He will be missed.

1b. The Athletic’s Mike Sando, a close friend of Clayton, wrote a remembrance of the NFL reporter for The Athletic:

I told ⁦@Jeff_Legwold⁩ that ⁦@JohnClaytonNFL⁩ might have been the best news-breaking NFL team beat reporter since his idol Will McDonough. Certainly among them. Here is a pic of JC from those days. pic.twitter.com/gwm5Li9oaJ

— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) March 19, 2022

1b.Fantastic work by ESPN play-by-play announcer Brenda VanLengen on Saturday calling LSU’s by-the-skin-of-tiger-tooth’s 83-77 win over Jackson State in the opening round of the women’s NCAA tournament. (Jackson State nearly became the first No. 14 seed to upset a No. 3 in the women’s tournament.) VanLengen was in command of every big moment of the game, especially as LSU closed on a 19-3 run, and on top of what viewers’ needed including explaining a significant technical foul called late in the game. VanLengen’s partner, Holly Warlick, the former Tennessee coach, is very much a television novice; Warlick unquestionably knows the game (and she was always great with reporters when I covered women’s hoops), but she’s like most former coaches who lack television reps and are still finding their way on when to impose their voice on a telecast. VanLengen had to carry the broadcast more than she might have with another analyst, and she was money for viewers in a thrilling game. Well done.

2.Episode 189 of the Sports Media Podcast features ESPN basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe. Both have significant on-air roles during ESPN’s coverage of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament including being part of the Final Four and national title game telecast.

In this podcast, Lobo and Rowe discuss their preparation for the NCAA Tournament; how this tournament is different based on the NCAA’s equity changes; what the changes mean for women’s basketball heading forward; should the women’s Final Four be in the same city as the men; the viewership of the women’s title game; whether sports gambling will help women’s basketball; which No. 2 seed is most dangerous; NC State as a No. 1 seed; Stanford’s attempt to repeat; Kim Mulkey at LSU; Nicki Collen at Baylor; Aliyah Boston as a difference-maker in big sports; UConn is now healthy, and what that means.

You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and more.

2a.Episode 188 of the Sports Media Podcast features two guests. First up is T.J. Quinn, the ESPN investigative reporter. He is followed by Chad Finn, the sports media writer for the Boston Globe.

Quinn discusses his reporting on WNBA star Brittney Griner being detained in Russia; the road ahead for Griner; the political component to this story; whether she can she get a fair trial in Russia; why the WNBA and players around the league have stayed relatively quiet; how one goes about reporting this respectfully, and more.

Finn discusses the NFL broadcasting changes; what he thinks of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman moving to Fox; who will call the World Series; whether he thinks Amazon will be impactful with its coverage; the media impact of the unretirement of Tom Brady and more.

3.Sports Business Journal’s John Ourand reported that Fox Sports will have the rights to carry an additional opening week Big 10 game in primetime in exchange for allowing Joe Buck to get out of his contract early to sign with ESPN. The game will bePenn State–Purdueon Sept. 1. Here’s the story.

3a. The Athletic’s Sam Stejskal examined the upcoming MLS media rights deals.

3b. NBC said this year’s Paralympic Winter Games averaged 165,000 TV-only viewers across NBC and USA Network, up 62 percent over PyeongChang in 2018 (102,000 viewers on NBC/NBCSN). This year’s coverage included the first-ever primetime spot on theNBC broadcast network.On Friday, March 11, NBC said its primetime Paralympics coverage on NBC averaged 1.34 million TV-only viewers, a Winter Olympics Paralympic record. NBC said the six NBC telecasts (three primetime and three afternoon) averaged 919,000 TV-only viewers, up 22 percentover PyeongChang.

3c.Last week ESPN announced its 2022 Sunday Night Baseball schedule, featuring the Red Sox at the Yankees on April 10 as the season opener. This year’s new lead group includes Karl Ravech (play-by-play), Eduardo Pérez (analyst), David Cone (analyst) and Buster Olney (insider). Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez will be part of an alternate presentation on ESPN2 alongside the traditional game broadcast on select Sundays.

3d. ESPN said itsNBA Saturday Primetime on ABC averaged 2,978,000 viewers, up 32 percent versus 2020-2021 and up 26 percent versus 2019-2020.

4. Sports pieces of note

• Great piece: The ecstasy, agony of ’97 Kansas, the best-ever team to miss the Final Four. By CJ Moore of The Athletic.

• Oliver Lee Bateman of The Ringer on the death of wrestler Scott Hall.

•‘The most toxic environment I’ve ever been a part of’: Inside Urban Meyer’s disastrous year with Jaguars. By Jayson Jenks and Mike Sando of The Athletic.

• Jeff Pearlman’s advice to college journalists covering their first NCAA Tournament.

• Why You Should Care About The Browns Rewarding Deshaun Watson. By Joe Banner of The 33rd Team.

• Gordie Howe, Fighting Saints and beer-soaked meal money: How the WHA changed the NHL for the better. By Eric Duhatschek of The Athletic.

• This is for Dickie V. By Jay Bilas, for the Players Tribune.

• Lia Thomas’s Success as a Transgender Swimmer Is Divisive — and Unlikely to Be Repeated. By Louise Radnofsky and Laine Higgins of The Wall Street Journal.

• The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones on the race to trade for Deshaun Watson and what that says about the Browns.

• Could Russia’s invasion of Ukraine push western sports to reconsider overseas relationships? By Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic.

Non-sports pieces of note

• Fascinating story: Rent-a-stranger: This Japanese man makes a living showing up and doing nothing By Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Julia Mio Inuma of The Washington Post.

• Via Justin Ling of The Toronto Star:The inside story of the convoy protests: A Canadian protest movement appeared to be fueled by opposition to COVID-19 restrictions, but conspiracy theories swirled just below the surface.

• How Russia’s mistakes and Ukrainain remittances altered Putin’s War. By the Visual Storytelling team of the Financial Times.

• How Russia will feel the sting of sanctions. By The Washington Post.

• Nikki Haley’s Hypocrisy and Faux Outrage Over Ukraine. By William Saletan of The Bulwark.

• Bob Chapek and Bob Iger had a falling out, they rarely talk — and the rift looms over Disney’s future. By Alex Sherman of CNBC.

• The Man Behind Ethereum Is Worried About Crypto’s Future. By Andrew R. Chow of Time.

• Ukraine’s Mariupol depends into despair. By Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka and Lori Hinnant of the AP.

• Late-Night Diners Mourn the Loss of Late-Night Diners. By Heather Haddon of The Wall Street Journal.

• 20 Days in Mariupol. The team that documented a city’s agony. By Mstyslav Chernov of the AP.

• On average, religious and spiritual people tend to experience better mental health, even in the midst of a pandemic. Why is that? By Sophie Isenberg of The Sunday Long Read.

• The Man Who Came Home from War to Do Good Things. By Jerry Hendrix of The National Review.

• It’s 70 degrees warmer than normal in eastern Antarctica. Scientists are flabbergasted. By Jason Samenow and Kasha Patel of The Washington Post.

• How the Atlanta Spa Shootings tell a story of America. By May Jeong of Vanity Fair.

• How Putin’s Oligarchs Bought London. By Patrick Radden Keefe of The New Yorker.

• After struggling to get treatment for her mentally ill son, a mother’s act of desperation: Giving up custody. By William Wan of The Washington Post.

• This is an absolutely heartbreaking story about a 25-year-old Virginian-Pilot reporter killed in a shooting in downtown Norfolk. By Jane Harper of The Virginian-Pilot.

• If you read only one piece here, read this: I trained Ukrainians to fight Russia. I’ve never seen a war like this. ByZachary A. Burgart, for The Washington Post.

(Top photo: Aaron M. Sprecher / AP)