According to Andrew Marchand of The New York Post, it has been reported that Fox Sports Analyst Troy Aikman is deep in negotiations with ESPN to become the lead analyst on Monday Night Football.
If true, Aikman would end his 21-year tenure with FOX Sports and long-time partnership with Joe Buck.
Additionally, Marchand gave details that his contract could be comparable or exceed the number of former Cowboys QB Tony Romo, who signed a 10-year,180 million deal with CBS that made him the highest-paid broadcaster.
Despite the latest rumor, Aikman’s name was also tied to Amazon Prime this past month, as they were attempting to make him the lead Thursday Night Football analyst and partner him up with Al Michaels to create a “dream-team announcing crew.”
During those rumors, Buck, Aikman’s longtime broadcasting partner, was asked in a Jan.26 Sports Illustrated media podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina, if he had imagined the thought of Aikman leaving FOX to Amazon, or to any major network.
“I try not to because it’s been 20 years and I can honestly say, the same hand to the same god, he and I have never had one moment where we have felt like…at least I haven’t, and we talk about it all the time, we’re lucky that we’re good friends,” Buck said.
“And in this business, with as much as there is on the line, at least in our own minds every time you go on, and this business can be kind of backstabby. Everybody’s climbing over one another to make something happen for themselves, he and I just have never played that game. He’s legitimately one of my best friends and I think he would say the same about me.”
Buck would wrap up his response by saying that Aikman knows how he feels, and he respects whatever decision Troy makes.
If Aikman were to take the ESPN gig, the biggest question will be surrounded on who will be his newest partner. There have been rumors surfacing today about FOX Sports wanting to dump a truckload of cash at Sean McVay’s place for the job, but nothing official has been reported on potential candidates to replace Aikman, nor has it been officially confirmed that Aikman has left FOX Sports yet.
