Troy Aikman's Monday Night Football career may be coming to a close. Despite stabilizing and elevating a once-frustrating broadcast alongside Joe Buck, not all is well in the state of ESPN (and ABC, depending on which network you prefer).
Aikman confirmed Thursday he's in the final year of his contract with ESPN. That sits in contrast with Buck, the veteran play-by-play announcer who signed a six-year, $108 million extension earlier in 2026. That's led to reported conflict between the two, culminating in a reported argument with Buck inside the booth before calling Week 5's showdown pairing the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers.
With free agency approaching, Super Bowl 61 could be Aikman's last broadcast with ESPN. Fortunately for the Worldwide Leader, there's another former player who's been lauded for his commentary and approaching free agency at the same time.
SPORTS BROADCASTING NEWS:
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) October 15, 2026
FOX has not had any negotiations with Greg Olsen about a contract beyond this season, per industry sources. Olsen's contract expires at the end of this NFL season. Something notable is Olsen had exploratory talks with CBS Sports two years ago. He's…
Greg Olsen made the jump from Pro Bowl tight end to "A" tier color commentator almost immediately after leaving the game behind. He's emerged as a trusted and insightful voice who can diagnose offenses and defenses without devolving into annoying calls or random, repeated exclamations Tony Romo-style. Per The Athletic's Richard Deitsch, Olsen's contract is set to expire after the 2026 NFL season.
While retaining him should be atop CBS's priorities, the network also has to find a full-time replacement for Romo, who will reportedly receive the bulk of his $180 million contract despite parting ways with the network following years of declining quality and a summer drunk driving arrest. If Olsen wants money approaching Tom Brady's $37 million per year, CBS may not be able to justify his new contract.
ESPN might, and Olsen's status as a reliable and interesting presence could make him a top candidate should the Monday Night Football role open up. Of course, that's still months away from even officially being open. Lots can happen between now and Super Bowl 61.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Could Greg Olsen replace Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football?