It’s time for NFL broadcasters to play musical chairs.
That’s because former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman is poised to leave FOX Sports. That Aikman would leave FOX comes as little surprise. His destination, however, is a shocker.
The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reports Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl champion, is “expected” to head to ESPN and become the main analyst for Monday Night Football.
Aikman’s ESPN deal will be for five years, according to sources, and his yearly salary is expected to approach or exceed the neighborhood of Tony Romo’s $17.5 million per year contract with CBS. The deal is not yet signed, but it is near completion.
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Amazon Prime had been interested in Aikman to pair him with Al Michaels for their exclusive Thursday Night Football broadcasts.
However, with 55-year-old Aikman going to the Worldwide Leader, Marchand reports ESPN could consider making a run at Michaels. And then there’s this:
With Joe Buck’s contact up next year, sources said ESPN could try to pry Buck from FOX. Buck also calls the World Series for the network. FOX would have to grant Buck permission if he wanted to leave early.
Marchand reports Amazon now might make a run at Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, who might be interested in walking away from the field after beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in Super Bowl LVI. Another option for Amazon could be Tom Brady, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
As for Aikman’s replacement at FOX, Marchand reports “it will consider its No. 2 analyst Greg Olsen, McVay, Sean Payton and, in a twist, could try to trade for NBC’s Drew Brees, according to sources. Brees, who is in NBC’s studio, is also a candidate for Amazon on Thursday nights.”
Here is Aikman’s bio from FOX Sports:
Aikman ascended to the FOX NFL “A-Team” prior to the 2002 and together with Buck are the second longest broadcast tandem to call NFL games. The duo is second only to NFL broadcasting legends Pat Summerall and John Madden. Aikman will call his sixth Super Bowl alongside Buck in Super Bowl LIV from Miami, FL on FOX. In addition to rules analyst Mike Pereira, reporters Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink, the duo called Thursday Night Football on FOX in 2018 for the first time on the network.
Aikman ascended to the lead FOX NFL on-air team prior to the 2002 season. Gifted at succinctly illustrating and explaining on-field action, Aikman’s analysis offers insight into the nuance and skill associated with playing in today’s NFL. After one season in the broadcast booth, Aikman was elevated to the network’s No. 1 broadcast team alongside Buck and analyst Cris Collinsworth. Aikman has called five Super Bowl broadcasts, all on FOX – Super Bowl XXXIX from Jacksonville with Buck and Collinsworth, Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, Super Bowl XLV in North Texas, Super Bowl XLVIII in New York and Super Bowl LI from Houston. Aikman earned an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding TV Event Analyst for his work during the 2003, 2005 and 2007 seasons.
After retiring from professional football at the conclusion of the 2000 season, Aikman joined FOX as an NFL game analyst and quickly displayed the proficiency and work ethic that marked his playing career. In 2001, he teamed with Dick Stockton and former teammate Daryl Johnston to form the network’s No. 2 team. Near the end of his rookie season in the booth, Sports Illustrated named him TV’s “Best Newcomer.” Aikman first cut his teeth as a game analyst during the 1998 and 2000 NFL Europe League seasons, gaining valuable experience working for Fox Sports Net alongside Brad Sham.
During Aikman’s incredible playing career, he set 45 Dallas Cowboys passing records, including the club’s career record for completions (2,898), passing yards (32,942), touchdowns (165) and completion percentage (61.3). While leading one of sports’ most famous franchises, the Cowboys won six NFC East titles (1992-96 & 1998) and advanced to four NFC Championship Games (1992-95). Aikman is one of only four quarterbacks to guide his team to victory in three Super Bowls (XXVII, XXVIII and XXX). In February 2006, Aikman was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Prior to joining the Cowboys, Aikman passed for 5,298 yards and 41 touchdowns in two years at UCLA. During that span, the All-American led the Bruins to a 20-4 record. In 1999, he was inducted into the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame. He transferred to UCLA after two seasons at the University of Oklahoma (1984-85). Selected by the Cowboys with the first overall selection in the 1989 NFL Draft, he became the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener for Dallas since Roger Staubach in 1969. In 2009, Aikman was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Aikman was raised in Cerritos, Calif. His family moved to Henryetta, Okla., when he was 12. Aikman went on to earn All-State honors at Henryetta High School. Founded in 1992, The Troy Aikman Foundation for Children has touched many young lives through services such as creating colorful recreation areas in children’s hospitals. Aikman resides in Dallas and has three daughters, Rachel, Jordan and Ally.
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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.