Charles Barkley Lashes Out at Troy Aikman Over His Feud with Joe Buck on ESPN: “I'm Very Disappointed”
Tension among the “Monday Night Football” commentators is mounting as Aikman nears the end of his contract with the network and Joe Buck has already secured his future with a multimillion-dollar deal.
The dispute that threatens to separate Troy Aikman and Joe Buck after 25 seasons sharing the broadcast booth has drawn a new voice. Charles Barkley decided to publicly intervene in the conflict and made it clear which side he’s on.
The legendary former NBA player criticized Aikman for blaming his co-host for the difficult situation he’s facing with ESPN. “I’m very disappointed in Troy Aikman,” Barkley said during an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic, before emphasizing that securing a new contract for him is not Buck’s responsibility.
Joe Buck’s Contract That Sparked Tension with Troy Aikman
The root of the conflict lies in ESPN’s negotiations with its two main Monday Night Football commentators. Buck secured a six-season extension reportedly worth $108 million, while Aikman has yet to receive an offer to continue when his current contract expires after the Super Bowl.
The discrepancy reportedly sparked a heated confrontation between the two before the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills on October 12. According to reports from Front Office Sports and Puck, Aikman viewed Buck’s decision to finalize his contract extension without involving him as a betrayal and went so far as to confront him directly about it.
The argument took place before the broadcast, in the broadcast booth at SoFi Stadium, prior to the game. Front Office Sports reported that the confrontation had cooled down before kickoff, and no tension between the two was apparent during the broadcast.
Barkley, however, rejected that view. The Inside the NBA panelist pointed out that Buck has no control over ESPN’s contractual decisions and that any frustration Aikman might have should be directed at the network, not at his co-host.
“They gave Joe a contract. It seems like they don’t want to give you one, but you don’t have to drag Joe Buck into it,” Barkley explained, also noting that the two have been working together since 2002. For the former player, a private conversation between them would be understandable, but he doesn’t think it’s fair to blame Buck for what happened.
The situation also has a backstory that Barkley did not overlook. In 2022, it was Aikman who left Fox first to sign with ESPN, where he received a five-year, $90 million contract. Buck was still under contract with Fox and was later given permission to reunite with his longtime partner at ESPN.
Currently, Buck and Aikman continue to co-host Monday Night Football broadcasts as they have for decades. But with one under contract at ESPN through 2032 and the other preparing to become a free agent, the upcoming Super Bowl could mark the end of one of the NFL’s most recognizable television duos.
