What is Joe Buck's ESPN contract?
Joe Buck is a play-by-play broadcaster who works for ESPN. Per the sources, he agreed to a six-year extension worth $108 million with ESPN and Disney in May. The deal was kept largely out of public view. His longtime partner, Troy Aikman, reportedly was not told about it.
Why it's in the news
Troy Aikman's ESPN exit appears near, and he has offered to meet Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Headlines also raise questions about Joe Buck's future at the network.
- Troy Aikman — Troy Aikman's ESPN exit appears near; he offers Jerry Jones lunch
Background
Joe Buck is a sportscaster known for calling professional football and other games on television. The sources describe his partnership with Troy Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback, which began in 2002 when both were at Fox. The two moved to ESPN in 2022 and called Monday Night Football together.
According to the sources, Buck received a six-year extension valued at $108 million from ESPN and Disney in May. The agreement was not publicly announced. One source reports that Aikman learned of it only later, even though both men are represented by the same agency, and that Aikman reportedly was furious. These details come from a single column and have not been confirmed by the networks in the sources provided.
Aikman's own situation is now in the news. His time at ESPN appears to be moving toward an end when the NFL season closes. He has said he wants a role in an NFL front office and has worked as a consultant to the Miami Dolphins since last year. When asked about a meal with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, he said he would be willing to meet whenever Jones wished. Other headlines say Aikman is open to a Cowboys front-office role and that Buck's broadcast future is also uncertain.
What people are asking
Did Joe Buck sign a new deal with ESPN?
Yes. The sources say Buck agreed to a six-year extension worth $108 million with ESPN and Disney in May. The terms were not publicly announced.
Why is Joe Buck's contract in the news?
A columnist wrote that the extension was kept quiet and that Troy Aikman was not informed. Aikman's own ESPN future is also in question as the NFL season nears its end.
Is Troy Aikman leaving ESPN?
The sources say his time with ESPN appears to be moving toward an end at the close of the NFL season. He has also said he wants an NFL front-office role.
What did Troy Aikman say about Jerry Jones?
Asked whether he would meet Jerry Jones, Aikman said he would meet with Jones for a meal at any time Jones wished.
Is Joe Buck still on Jeopardy or doing other work?
The sources do not address this, so no answer is given here.
Sources
- NBC SportsWith Troy Aikman possibly exiting broadcasting, he extends an olive branch to Jerry Jones
- WSJTroy Aikman, Joe Buck and the Awkward Tension on ‘Monday Night Football’
- The Boston GlobeTroy Aikman’s almost-certain ESPN farewell at NFL season’s end makes one nostalgic about Patriots Super Bowls past
- Yahoo SportsTroy Aikman Open to Cowboys Front Office Role as Broadcast Future Wavers
- Sports IllustratedGoodbye, Joe Buck? Troy Aikman Just Opened the Door to a New Opportunity in Jerry’s World
- USA TodayNFL exec, Jerry Jones weigh in on Joe Buck, Troy Aikman ESPN future