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The NFL isn’t worried about the supposed rift between ESPN’s Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
One week after the longtime “Monday Night Football” broadcasters reportedly got into an argument over Aikman’s uncertain future with the Worldwide Leader, NFL chief media officer Hans Schroeder said Wednesday that he had “no concern” about the supposed tension between the two.
“I don’t know if you watched the [49ers and Commanders] game on Monday night,” Schroeder said during an owners meeting this week, via Front Office Sports. “It was an incredible game, right? It was an incredible game and incredible coverage by Joe and Troy, just like they always do. And, by the way, also, there’s so many other ways that Disney covered that game. It was the first real [Pat] McAfee launch, too, adding to that experience. So, look, that’s something… that we’re really not involved with.”
The alleged argument occurred before the Rams-Bills game on Oct. 12, with tensions reportedly stemming from their vastly different contract situations.
Buck recently signed a six-year, $108 million extension with ESPN while his partner, whom he has worked with since 2002, has yet to receive a new offer from the network, with his contract set to expire after this season.
Last week, Aikman told sports media reporter Jimmy Traina that he believes the company is ready to move on from him.
“It just seems to be where they’re going — that they’re gonna go in a different direction because there’s been no talks, no contract negotiations,” Aikman said. “We’re in a Super Bowl year. The Super Bowl is Feb. 14. My contract ends in March. It just doesn’t seem logical that if they were gonna keep me, something wouldn’t be in place before that.”
They appeared to put their differences aside during Monday night’s broadcast in Santa Clara, Calif., showing no obvious signs of tension on the air.
Schroeder expressed confidence that Buck and Aikman would continue delivering quality broadcasts through the rest of the season, including when ESPN airs its first Super Bowl in February.
“I think the fans are deserving of first-class game production, which Joe and Troy have, I think — going back to ’02 or something was their first year — a history of doing that as well as anyone,” he said. “And I think you’ll continue to see them do that as well as anyone. I thought it was awesome Monday night. And so we’re incredibly excited about the year… and the Super Bowl and their coverage and getting them back as far as ESPN’s first ever and ABC’s in a long time. They’re going to do an unbelievable job.”