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Report: More drama emerges for FOX following Troy Aikman departure

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh03/07/22griffin_mcveigh
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(Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

FOX is less than a year away from hosting Super Bowl 57 but their top broadcast team is in the process of being ripped apart. Color analyst Troy Aikman will be leaving the network in favor of ESPN, being one of the main voices involved with Monday Night Football. Play-by-play announcer Joe Buck is considering his future as well, with ESPN going after him to join Aikman in the booth.

Now, FOX is in danger of losing one of its best sideline reports as well.

According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Erin Andrews is on the verge of becoming a free agent. The report states FOX would like to keep Andrews on their team, although ESPN could have some interest in going after her. However, there is one obstacle the World Wide Leader would have to overcome.

“The Post has learned that Fox’s top NFL sideline reporter, Erin Andrews, will become a free agent shortly,” Marchand said. “Fox would like to keep her, according to sources. ESPN recently signed Lisa Salters to continue on its sidelines. Salters is expected to stay in her role on the Aikman-led MNF. ESPN would have interest in talking with Andrews, according to sources, about a return to the network where she started. However, there have been no discussions yet.”

Andrews left ESPN in favor of Fox in 2012, mainly working the sideline for the biggest NFL games of the week. She has also worked with the network in the college football programming and even directly competed with ESPN’s College Gameday. If she were to return, the exact role for Andrews is not known, especially with Salters still working during Monday Night Football.

Buck will not be able to make his own decision regarding staying at Fox or moving to ESPN with Aikman. Marchand says it will be decided by Fox CEO Eric Shanks on whether or not the play-by-play commentator will be let out of the final year of his contract.

Troy Aikman recently expressed how good of friends he and Buck were and even said he would like his long-time partner to move to Monday Night Football with him.

As things stand, Tom Renaldi is the only personality from last year’s No. 1 broadcasting team that is set in stone for Fox heading into the 2022 season. He recently left ESPN as well and has worked within the NFL while continuing his college football work.