MNF viewers think they could see clear sign of tensions between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck
MNF viewers think they could see clear sign of tensions between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck
Sahil Kurup Tue, November 3, 2026 at 2:22 AM UTC
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Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly fell out over an 'ultimate act of betrayal' -Credit:Getty (Getty)
Monday Night Football viewers were watching the broadcast for more than the Seahawks and Bears, and a few moments in the booth had them convinced they could see the strain between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in real time.
The pair called Seattle-Chicago at 8:15 p.m. ET in their first MNF assignment since the details of their booth argument became public over the weekend, and social media zeroed in on the opening. As Buck looked at Aikman during the introduction, viewers said Aikman did not look back.
“Bro Joe Buck is staring at Troy Aikman and he won’t even look at him,” one fan wrote, and another said, “Troy Aikman won’t even look at Joe Buck.”
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A third posted that Aikman looked “fed up” sitting next to his partner, and another joked that Aikman looked like he wanted to slap Buck.
The interest comes because the details of their split have just come into focus. The Athletic reported that before ESPN’s Oct. 12 Rams-Bills game, Aikman had a tense one-hour meeting with ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, who asked whether he could still work with Buck. Aikman said yes.
Then, according to the report, the two argued in the booth. Buck opened by asking Aikman whether he was “not going to f---ing talk to me,” and Aikman answered, “I just never thought you’d do it to me.” Neither man has publicly confirmed the exchange.
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Aikman, 59, was asked about it by a Dallas radio station and declined to go into it, saying he will broadcast through this season and then be a free agent.
“I’ll broadcast through this season and I’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and kind of see what happens,” Aikman said.
Buck has since agreed to an extension reported at $108 million, which was meant to stay private, while Aikman’s side opened talks around $30 million a year and ESPN has shown little urgency to re-sign him.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman reportedly had a fight over their contracts at ESPN -Credit:Getty
They use different agents at CAA, so their deals have never moved in lockstep. Aikman has acknowledged how much is at stake.
“As I’m into my last year at ESPN, I’m realizing that this is something that could very well be taken away from me,” he said on a recent podcast. “For the first time probably in my career, I’m realizing, you know, this is a great profession. It’s been a great ride for me, and I hope it’s not over. Time will tell.”
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Source: “AOL Sports”
