Troy Aikman's contract with ESPN expires after the 2026 season, which culminates in the four-letter network's first ever Super Bowl. Absent an extension, which Aikman currently doesn't expect, he'll become a broadcasting free agent.
His separate relationship with the Dolphins hovers over Aikman's future on TV.
Via Mark Maske of Front Office Sports, Aikman does not have a “formal and ongoing agreement” to serve as a consultant with the Dolphins. This means that he's working for the team on an at-will basis, and that he (or the team) can end the relationship at any time.
It could be in Aikman's best interests to end the relationship with the Dolphins now. If ESPN (or CBS or Prime Video) will be paying $20 million or more for its top NFL analyst gig, why would any of them hire someone who has both restrictions on his access and a cloud over his objectivity, thanks to having an employment relationship with one of its teams.
Last month, Aikman "called bullshit" on the idea that other broadcasters don't have conflicts of interest. That misses the point. Aikman is employed by the Dolphins. That relationship prevents him from entering team facilities or attending practices — and it creates avoidable complications when it comes to games involving the team that employs him.
When ESPN's Jason Kelce refers to the Eagles as "we," it's because he used to play for the team. (And ESPN is trying to get him to knock it off.) When Aikman talks about the Dolphins, "we" is technically accurate; he works for the team.
For networks with options, why would any network opt for someone who is employed by one of the teams? Beyond Tom Brady (who owns a piece of the Raiders and has an even more obvious conflict of interest, even if Fox doesn't care), none of the other candidates for the biggest jobs in NFL broadcasting bring such baggage with them.
As to Aikman, the right decision is obvious if he hopes to get another high-profile broadcasting job. He should end his relationship with the Dolphins as soon as possible.