ESPN and Joe Buck have reached a new six-year contract extension valued at approximately $108 million. This means Buck’s yearly salary will increase from $15 million to $18 million, as reported by The Athletic.
Buck joined ESPN in 2022 along with his long-time partner, Troy Aikman. The acquisition of both was significant for ESPN, marking one of the most pivotal talent signings in the network’s four-decade history.
For years, ESPN struggled to secure a broadcasting team that could compete effectively with its rivals, attempting various combinations like Sean McDonough with Steve Levy and Booger McFarland pairing with Jason Witten. Unfortunately, those matchups didn’t resonate.
In contrast, Buck and Aikman have established themselves as perhaps the top duo in sports commentary. Aikman, who inked a five-year, $90 million contract with ESPN, is yet to finalize his next deal, with his current contract ending post-Super Bowl in February.
There’s a strong expectation he’ll re-sign.
Buck’s new agreement guarantees his position through not just the upcoming Super Bowl but also ESPN’s next one in 2031. At 57, there’s a chance he might pursue another contract once this one expires. Comparatively, Al Michaels, now 81, is still announcing Thursday Night Football for Amazon.
With this deal, Buck and Aikman are now tied as ESPN’s third-highest-paid on-air figures, following Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee. Smith earns around $21 million annually, while McAfee stands at about $30 million, though it’s worth noting that McAfee’s agreement is a bit unconventional as he licenses his daily show to ESPN and has separate contracts for various roles including “College GameDay” and “Monday Night Countdown.” There are rumors McAfee might renew for around $65 million per year.
The contracts awarded to Buck, McAfee, Aikman, and Smith underline ESPN’s payroll strategy under chairman Jimmy Pitaro: attract big names while keeping the mid-tier salaries low.
This renewal comes on the heels of ESPN’s decision to let go of multiple on-air personalities in July, following another round of cuts that saw 20 talents affected in 2023.
Other significant ESPN personalities include Michael Wilbon, Tony Kornheiser, Kirk Herbstreit, and Mike Breen, but given the prestige associated with calling a Super Bowl, Buck arguably holds the most value among them.
He might also be in line to return as the voice of the World Series if ESPN includes it in their lineup by 2029. Reportedly, Pitaro has expressed a desire for Buck to handle the World Series broadcast, should it switch from its current exclusive deal with FOX, where Buck previously announced the event.
In future negotiations, FOX, ESPN, NBC, and Netflix might all be contenders for those broadcasting rights.
