Troy Aikman landing spots: Ranking 6 best 2027 fits after potential breakup with Joe Buck, ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Troy Aikman has worked alongside Joe Buck as a color commentator on NFL games on two television networks over the past 25 years. That long-term partnership, however, is in serious jeopardy of not extending into 2027.
Aikman is in the final year of a five-year, $90 million contract with his current employer, ESPN, after working for Fox Sports from 2002 to 2021. Buck, meanwhile, has already gotten his extension to call "Monday Night Football" for a reported $100 million-plus over six more years.
Buck getting a deal while Aikman remains a pending free agent has caused some tension in the MNF booth. Although Aikman has acknowledged the uncertainty, he is focusing on his current gig, knowing that he will be on the call for ESPN's Super Bowl 61 telecast early next year.
As for when the 2027 NFL season rolls around, there's an increasing chance Aikman will have a breakup with Buck. With how much ESPN is paying in millions to maintain Buck, Pat McAfee, and Stephen A. Smith as the "voices of their network", Aikman feels like the odd man out to keep seeing big money.
Here's a look at where Aikman, who turns 60 in November, might continue his broadcast career outside of ESPN, leading with the obvious choice in replacing another former Cowboys quarterback.
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys dip, Patriots, Packers on the rise
Troy Aikman's six best landing spots in 2027CBS ... with Jim Nantz
Nantz has been making it work with J.J. Watt, who keeps getting better with each game. But CBS may want to reinvest long-term in a more established color man after Tony Romo's departure. Aikman would be the easiest and most natural move to get him on his third major network.
Had Aikman been available as a free agent when Romo was hired, there's a good chance CBS would have gone in that direction instead.
Amazon Prime Video with ... Ian Eagle?
Prime Video will likely completely shake up NFL "Thursday Night Football". Al Michaels is turning 82 in November. Kirk Herbstreit is feeling overextended from his lead college football role on ESPN.
Eagle, the CBS' lead announcer on the No. 2 broadcast team behind Nantz with Ross Tucker, used to form a dynamic duo with Watt. Eagle, who has taken over from Nantz as the No. 1 man for March Madness, is deserving of a prime-time slot. Eagle and Aikman would give TNF a major upgrade in quality of broadcasts as Prime Video tries to become a bigger NFL player.
MORE:The Sporting News' latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft
NBC ... back with Cris Collinsworth
Collinsworth used to form a three-man booth with Buck and Aikman on Fox. He's been outstanding working with Michaels and Mike Tirico as NBC's main NFL color commentator for 18 seasons. Collinsworth is under contract through the 2029-2030 season. He also turns 68 next January. NBC could go with a three-man booth for a while before Collinsworth decides to retire and Aikman sticks with Tirico.
Fox NFL Sunday ... in place of Jimmy Johnson
This is the best capacity in which Aikman can rejoin his former employer. Tom Brady is now serving on the No. 1 team with Kevin Burkhardt, so games likely won't be an option. Watch out for Aikman transitioning to America's No. 1 NFL pregame show, however.
Aikman's former Cowboys Super Bowl-winning coach retired in 2025. Terry Bradshaw may also be close to making the same decision at 78. Aikman would be a natural fit with Curt Menefee, Howie Long, Michael Strahan and Rob Gronkowski.
MORE: Why these NFL quarterbacks should be benched
On a beach ... somewhere
Aikman is an extremely fit 60-year-old whose primary residence is now in Montecito, Calif., close to the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara. The former UCLA star would have easy access to FOX NFL Sunday in L.A. that way. Or he could also decide to just not work for a while, enjoying his luxury lifestyle.