How Troy Aikman and Joe Buck’s Fractured Relationship Boiled Over to Massive “MNF” Blowup: Report

Joe Buck, Troy AikmanCredit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectNEED TO KNOWTroy Aikman and Joe Buck argued before the Oct. 12 Monday Night Football game, according to a new report from The AthleticBuck has signed a new deal with ESPN but Aikman’s future with the network is unknownThe duo has been calling games together for 24 years, first on Fox and later moving to ESPN in 2022Troy Aikman was blindsided by news that his longtime broadcasting partner Joe Buck re-upped with ESPN without him, according to a new report.The decades-long partnership could be a thing of the past after Buck reached an agreement on a six-year, $108 million deal earlier this year — and the Hall of Fame quarterback later found out that he wasn’t a package deal, according to a report in The Athletic published on Friday, Oct. 30.Aikman, 59, seemingly learned of the new contract before it was announced and accused Buck, 57, of going behind his back, the outlet reported, which culminated in a tense exchange just before the Bills-Rams game on Oct. 12.“You are not going to f---ing talk to me?” Buck reportedly said to Aikman. “I’m not the reason you don’t have a contract.”Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!“I just never thought you’d do it to me.” Aikman reportedly replied, alluding to a carousel of five producers and directors who have come and gone during their four-year tenure at ESPN.Troy Aikman, Joe BuckCredit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect“They got rid of them because you were screaming at them,” Buck returned.Aikman, known for “barking orders for replays he desired,” had made production standards untenable, sources who are familiar with Buck’s perspective told The Athletic.Meanwhile, Aikman’s team thinks of Buck as a “master of manipulating to get what he wants,” according to the report.Now, the legendary broadcasting duo, who have been calling NFL games together since 2002, could finish their run at the Super Bowl on Feb. 14, 2027 — the first time in ESPN history that the network will air the game.Read the original article on People