Troy Aikman Addresses Reported Breakup With Joe Buck, Says He’s Leaving ESPN | American sports media

Longtime Monday Night Football announcer Troy Aikman said he’s looking for his “next landing spot” with his ESPN contract set to expire after February’s Super Bowl.

“I’ll broadcast through this season and be a free agent at the end of the year and see what happens,” Aikman said in a radio interview with Dallas’ KTCK Thursday morning.

Aikman, a Hall of Fame quarterback who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, is in the final year of a five-year contract with ESPN that pays him $18 million a year.

Joe Buck, Aikman’s broadcast partner of 25 years, recently finalized a six-year extension with ESPN worth more than $100 million, according to the Athletic. Buck’s deal will extend through the network’s next Super Bowl broadcast in 2031.

In Thursday’s radio interview, Aikman appeared to confirm earlier reports from Front Office Sports that there was tension between him and Buck over their contract situations. The two reportedly argued before Monday’s game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.

“There’s probably a time and place to discuss all of this,” Aikman said. “I don’t know if it’s time. I don’t know if it’s hard to understand what happened.”

If Aikman leaves ESPN, he could explore his options at other networks or streaming services or perhaps take a front office role on an NFL team.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of the season has in store for us, with the Super Bowl and all that, and where my next landing spot might be,” Aikman said.