Aikman Sees Even Chance He Won’t Call Games Next Season

At a Dallas book event on Wednesday, Troy Aikman said he was unsure whether he would still be calling NFL games next season, putting the odds of leaving television at 50-50. His contract with ESPN’s Monday Night Football ends after the 2026 season, and he has not received an extension offer. ESPN extended his broadcast partner, Joe Buck, for six years in September in a deal worth $108 million.

The contract news has contributed to tension between the two longtime colleagues. They argued before a Bills-Rams game in Los Angeles, and Aikman has indicated publicly that his ESPN tenure could end after the Super Bowl, which the network is due to air. Several other major broadcast positions are occupied: CBS has committed to J.J. Watt as its leading game analyst, while Tom Brady and Cris Collinsworth hold top roles at Fox and NBC.

Aikman has also said he would consider work beyond the broadcast booth, including with the Cowboys, the team he played for over 12 seasons and helped win three Super Bowls. He described his relationship with owner Jerry Jones as complicated but rooted in respect, and said he would hear Jones out if he believed Aikman could help. Jones has called a reunion possible and said Aikman was qualified for an NFL front-office role. Aikman also worked in an advisory capacity for Miami during its offseason search for a coach and general manager, but has no continuing formal arrangement with the team.