Bradshaw questions money as cause of Buck-Aikman tension

Bradshaw, who worked with Buck and Aikman at Fox and remains on its NFL Sunday program, said he had exchanged texts with Buck about the dispute. He said the two broadcasters were both close friends and that he found it difficult to believe Buck’s new deal was the reason for a rift, given Aikman’s own substantial contract. Bradshaw added that he understood the relationship was currently all right.

Buck and Aikman joined ESPN together in 2022 after years as an NFL announcing team. Their partnership is now in its 25th season. A disagreement ahead of last month’s Monday night game in Los Angeles fueled speculation about a falling-out, with viewers also perceiving tension during broadcasts.

Buck has signed a six-year agreement worth $108 million, taking his annual pay to $18 million from $15 million under his previous contract. Aikman’s ESPN deal, signed when he moved to the network, is estimated to pay him $18 million to $18.5 million a year. Buck’s future is secured by his new contract, while Aikman’s next steps beyond February remain unclear.

Aikman recently said he was in the final year of his ESPN contract and hoped his broadcasting career would continue. Neither he nor Buck has publicly addressed the dispute. The pair are set to reunite in the booth for ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast on February 14, after calling Super Bowl LIV for Fox in 2020.