Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly bickered over their ESPN contract situations

ESPN recently awarded Joe Buck a substantial contract extension, including a significant pay raise, to keep him as the anchor for Monday Night Football through the early 2030s. In contrast, the network did not offer a comparable extension to Troy Aikman, a Pro Football Hall of Famer whose contract expires at the end of the 2026 NFL season.

Despite the pair set to call Super Bowl 61 for ESPN and ABC, recent tensions arose between the acclaimed announcing duo, who have collaborated for two decades, dating back to their Fox days.

According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, tensions simmered prior to the Monday night matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Rams. Joe Buck reportedly attempted to reconcile the situation with Aikman before the broadcast duo took to the field. However, the gesture seemed to backfire, leading to an argument during their pregame preparation.

Despite the disagreement, the argument was brief and went unnoticed by viewers. While Buck's future at ESPN appears secure, the network's position on Aikman's contract status remains unclear. Nonetheless, the color commentator has expressed dissatisfaction with the attempt to appease his colleague. The bond between Buck and Aikman remains strong, and their continued collaboration is viewed as valuable.

For now, it remains uncertain whether Aikman will reunite with his long-time partner or if they will part ways after the 2026 season.