When spectators tune in to ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”, they will be greeted by a pair of new faces … Kind of.
Fox commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, who have been working together for a long time, switched positions during the offseason and are now part of ESPN’s main football program, following a 20-year tenure at Fox.
Aikman will receive $92.5 million, while Buck will earn between $60 million and $75 million over the course of their five-year agreement, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. The sports media giant, The Worldwide Leader in Sports, signed lucrative contracts with the talented pair, who collectively covered six Super Bowls during their time with the network.
Here’s all the information you need to know about Buck and Aikman’s transition to “Monday Night Football.”
MORE: Quarterback Rankings | Running Back Rankings | Wide Receiver Rankings | Purchase NFL tickets.
Aikman was the first to depart from CBS with a contract worth $17.5 million per year, surpassing Tony Romo’s deal in a mammoth inking with ESPN. The latest in the NFL’s broadcasting carousel, Buck moved on to new pastures.
Shortly after, Buck followed with his departure from Fox, where he was granted a release from his contract, allowing him to negotiate with ESPN+. Due to this, ESPN+ was willing to pay him more than $10 million to license the projects he will produce, while Fox will also receive a share from the deal. Buck is also known for calling World Series games for the network.
Buck’s relocation has led to Fox taking over the primetime game between Penn State and Purdue on September 1. It has been reported by John Ourand from Sports Business Journal that ESPN relinquished a Big Ten telecast to Fox in order to make the offer more enticing for Buck.
IYER: Evaluating networks’ top NFL broadcasting teams for 2022.
In an aggressive approach, Jimmy Pitaro, the chairman of ESPN, took the lead in revamping the network’s NFL program to handle broadcasts for the 2023 games. According to Marchand, the network believes in adding higher-profile games to its schedule and is on the cusp of doing so.
The network has already ensured its team for the coverage of the major event in Buck and Aikman. ESPN will televise the Super Bowl in 2027. Buck and Aikman, therefore, were vital acquisitions.
Who is replacing Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on Fox?
Eventually, he will join Tom Brady, who signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with the network that he will activate once his playing career hangs up, as Kevin Burkhardt moves into the No. 1 slot for Fox. The network looked to fill that gaping hole in their football coverage left by Aikman’s and Buck’s departure.
MORE: How Troy Aikman ‘annoyed’ Fox, expediting Tom Brady’s recruitment.
Meanwhile, Burkhardt will join forces with former NFL tight end Greg Olsen on Fox Sports’ “A-Team.”
The last match of the 2020 NLCS, which has featured several previous games on the network, was announced by Joe Davis, the primary commentator for Fox baseball during most of the 2022 season. This decision was especially significant considering that the network possesses the broadcasting rights for two out of the next three World Series, and they needed to find someone to fill in for Buck on MLB broadcasts. Fox also had this responsibility.