Story perspectives

ESPN Owes Troy Aikman No New Deal, Free Agency Looms

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:42 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Troy Aikman, ESPN color commentator, says he will be a free agent after the season ends in March.
His current five-year contract pays $18 million per season and expires after ESPN’s Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 14, 2027.
ESPN has not offered Aikman a new contract while preparing its first Super Bowl broadcast.
Analysts Greg Olsen, Jason Kelce and Pat McAfee are mentioned as possible ESPN replacements.

History

Historical Context

In December 1993, Fox outbid CBS with a $1.58 billion offer to broadcast NFC games, giving the network its first major sports property and propelling it into the “Big Three” ranks. The deal prompted Fox to hire veteran commentator John Madden from CBS, cementing a new era of high-pay sports talent that today echoes in multi-million-dollar analyst contracts.

1 of 2

Story summary

Troy Aikman, ESPN color commentator, says he will be a free agent after the season ends in March.
His current five-year contract pays $18 million per season and expires after ESPN’s Super Bowl broadcast on Feb. 14, 2027.
ESPN has not offered Aikman a new contract while preparing its first Super Bowl broadcast.
Analysts Greg Olsen, Jason Kelce and Pat McAfee are mentioned as possible ESPN replacements.

1 / 2