{
  "id": 18793158,
  "title": "Ryan Clark Takes Issue With ESPN’s Treatment of Troy Aikman",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/ryan-clark-takes-issue-with-espns-treatment-of-troy-aikman",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-07T21:19:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/ryan-clark-takes-issue-with-espns-treatment-of-troy-aikman-12682186"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former ESPN personality Ryan Clark has expressed his discontent with the network's treatment of fellow commentator Troy Aikman, whose contract is set to expire soon. On ESPN's \"The Pivot\" podcast, Clark accused ESPN of favoring Joe Buck, who recently inked a contract extension, over Aikman. Clark stated, \"Somebody is trying to make Troy Aikman look like the bastard son.\" He further revealed that ESPN typically shows support for their commentators, even when they're at fault, but has not done the same for Aikman.\n\nClark believed that ESPN is employing tactics to make Aikman the \"bad guy,\" regardless of his actual standing. He explained, \"I know they have ways of maneuvering to protect him. And I know they have ways of putting people in positions where a narrative is built around them so when they make their exit, they can seem like the good guy.\" The two have been colleagues for over two decades, dating back to their time at Fox. In 2022, both Aikman and Buck joined ESPN to call \"Monday Night Football\" games. However, following Buck's reported six-year, $108 million contract extension, Aikman's contract situation remains uncertain. Sources suggest that ESPN may initiate contract talks with Aikman after its first Super Bowl broadcast on February 14 or opt to move on. Aikman and Buck will be calling their seventh Super Bowl together on Valentine's Day.",
  "summary": "Ryan Clark believes ESPN is favoring Joe Buck over Troy Aikman since the latter has not signed a new contract.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}