Marchand sees 5% chance Troy Aikman does not call Super Bowl with Buck in February
A strained partnership
The relationship between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly worsened after Buck signed an ESPN extension without Aikman knowing. The deal was finalized in the spring, and Aikman felt betrayed when he learned about it, according to the report. The tension surfaced in the Monday Night Football booth last month. Buck told Aikman, “You are not going to f*cking talk to me?” and later said, “I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.” Aikman replied, “I just never thought you’d do it to me.”
Few top booth openings
Aikman’s prospects elsewhere appear limited. CBS named J.J. Watt its lead NFL analyst through the 2028 Super Bowl, while Kirk Herbstreit appears committed to Prime Video, barring a change such as Sean McVay leaving coaching for broadcasting.
Tom Brady’s Fox contract extends well into the 2030s, and Cris Collinsworth’s NBC deal runs through the end of the decade. Without a new agreement with ESPN, the report says Aikman has no apparent top booth destination next year.
Marchand’s Super Bowl estimate
On The Varsity podcast with John Ourand, Marchand estimated a 95% chance Aikman will be in the booth for ESPN’s Super Bowl LXI broadcast in February, and a 5% chance he will not. He said the broadcasters are professional but described the situation as ugly.
Marchand suggested that continued public discussion could affect how the situation develops internally. He also said the remaining risk is that people become angry and push events in another direction.
Two broadcasts completed
Buck and Aikman have called two Monday Night Football games since reports of their fractured relationship emerged. Their broadcasts have appeared professional, and their work seems largely unaffected.
Still, the relationship could deteriorate, potentially forcing ESPN to find an analyst during the season. The article says ESPN’s first Super Bowl broadcast could leave the network searching for a replacement just weeks before the game.
Key points
- Marchand estimates a 5% chance Aikman will not call Super Bowl LXI with Buck.
- Buck and Aikman have completed two Monday Night Football broadcasts since reports of their rift surfaced.
- Aikman’s apparent options at other major networks are limited.
- ESPN could need an analyst replacement if the relationship deteriorates further.