Troy Aikman’s Potential Free Agency

Troy Aikman may be facing free agency in his roles within the NFL.

The Hall of Fame quarterback’s contract with ESPN, which reportedly earns him $18 million a year, will come to an end after this season’s Super Bowl. Additionally, his advisory position with the Miami Dolphins lacks a formal ongoing agreement, according to sources.

Turning 60 next month, Aikman has been assisting Dolphins owner Stephen Ross in the selections that led to the hiring of GM Jon-Erik Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley earlier this January.

In a conversation with Dallas radio station 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman stated that he anticipates becoming “a free agent” once he and his broadcasting partner, Joe Buck, complete their Super Bowl coverage. He also addressed rumors of a disagreement with Buck regarding their contract situations, mentioning an incident that occurred before the recent Bills vs. Rams game. Buck recently signed a new six-year contract valued at around $108 million.

“I think there’s probably a time and a place for all that to be discussed,” Aikman remarked. “I don’t know if now is the time. It’s a bit unclear what’s going on. But I’ll finish this season and then see what happens as a free agent.”

He added that he looks forward to the remainder of the year, including the Super Bowl and whatever his next opportunity might be.

Interestingly, Matt Ryan transitioned from his role at CBS to become the Falcons’ president of football operations earlier this year.

Currently, it’s not entirely certain if Aikman will keep his consulting role with the Dolphins or explore front-office opportunities with another NFL team, possibly the Cowboys, where he made his name.

However, neither path would likely match the financial rewards of staying in the booth as one of the top game analysts.

In recent developments, CBS parted ways with Tony Romo following his arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in July, leaving J.J. Watt as the network’s primary analyst.

Aikman’s involvement with the Dolphins has subjected him to certain access restrictions similar to those faced by Fox analyst Tom Brady, who is a part-owner of the Raiders. Both Aikman and Brady can take part in virtual meetings and off-site interviews but are prohibited from attending team practices or being present at training facilities.