Troy Aikman reportedly nears move to ESPN, as NFL prime-time broadcast shake-up looms
NFL fans likely will see a change in prime-time games in the 2022 season.
ESPN, which for the past two seasons had settled on a broadcast booth of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese, reportedly is close to hiring a lead analyst away from another network.
The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reported ESPN is negotiating with Fox Sports’ Troy Aikman on a 10-year deal. A story from the Athletic’s Richard Deitsch said “all signs point to Aikman heading to ESPN.”
“Aikman’s deal is not completed yet, but there is an expectation that it will be finalized,” Marchand wrote. “Aikman has also been courted by Amazon.”
Amazon wanted to hire Aikman, because he had worked “Thursday Night Football” games with Joe Buck for Fox Sports, as well as Fox’s “America’s Game of the Week” in the late Sunday window.
Beginning this fall, Amazon will be the sole broadcaster for “Thursday Night Football” games.
Aikman, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, and Buck had been Fox Sports’ top NFL broadcast team for the previous 20 seasons.
The Post story says ESPN could attempt to pair Aikman with Al Michaels, who appears done with NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Mike Tirico is expected to replace Michaels on “Sunday Night Football,” and Tirico would be paired with Cris Collinsworth.
Should Michaels not be hired at ESPN, he is seen as a candidate for “Thursday Night Football” games on Amazon, the Inquirer reported.
An Adweek story noted Amazon is planning to use “new technologies like X-ray, Next Gen Stats, enhanced replays and multiple broadcast teams ... to differentiate itself from the traditional linear broadcasts.”
As for Fox, Front Office Sports said the network was targeting former Saints coach Sean Payton to replace Aikman, if he left. The Post story says Fox also may have interest in Rams coach Sean McVay (if he retires) and could try to trade for former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who is currently with NBC.
Another option: Greg Olsen, who is Fox Sports’ analyst for its No. 2 broadcast team.
So a lot of changes could be coming for prime-time NFL games on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays this fall.
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 8:34 AM.
