Report: Troy Aikman 'on the verge of' making major career move
FOX analyst Troy Aikman is reportedly on the move — and it could shake up the NFL media landscape.
Aikman is “on the verge of” leaving to join ESPN’s Monday Night Football, according to the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand. The deal isn’t done yet, but Marchand reported it’s close — and he added it will be a five-year deal and the average salary. That means he likely won’t be making as much as fellow Cowboys great Tony Romo, who signed a 10-year, $180 million deal with CBS in 2017 to work alongside Jim Nantz.
The Dallas Cowboys legend joined FOX in 2001 and is a longtime broadcast partner of play-by-play announcer Joe Buck. Aikman’s name has come up around other NFL media companies, including Amazon, which is working to sign Al Michaels, who’s been the voice of Sunday Night Football since 2006 alongside John Madden and, most recently, Cris Collinsworth.
Amazon wants Michaels to handle play-by-play duties for Thursday Night Football after his contract ended with NBC this year. However, ESPN could also make a run at Michaels, who called Monday Night Football for 20 years on ABC.
More on Troy Aikman, ESPN
Aikman played quarterback for the Cowboys from 1989-2000 and helped the Cowboys win three Super Bowls. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and won Super Bowl XXVIII MVP. This year, Dallas played in the NFC Divisional Round — but Aikman and Buck were in Tampa Bay to call the Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles game. He appeared to voice a bit of his frustration about the decision prior to the broadcast.
“It’s going to be a great game, I mean, a really good game,” Aikman said. “I think there’s a lot of people who would like to be calling that game. But should be a lot of fun.”
Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick have held down the Monday Night Football booth for the last two seasons. However, Griese’s contract is up, which could be by ESPN is working to make a big splash and sign Aikman.
The news also comes as ESPN’s contract with the NFL changes. By 2023, ESPN and ABC will add six additional games to its slate, including four doubleheaders. That means the network will need another broadcast team in the booth.