Aikman Says He’ll Be a Free Agent After the Season

Troy Aikman said Thursday he will broadcast the rest of the NFL season, become a free agent afterward and decide what comes next, but he did not confirm that he plans to leave ESPN. His comments came amid a report that he and broadcast partner Joe Buck argued before a Monday Night Football game over their contracts. In an interview with Dallas radio station 96.7 The Ticket, Aikman said he would see what happens after the season and referred to a possible next landing spot. Asked about the reported exchange, he said there was a time and place to discuss it but did not provide details. His remarks neither confirmed the argument nor established whether he intends to seek a new ESPN deal. The report of the argument, based on an unnamed source, said Buck and Aikman had a contentious exchange before the Buffalo Bills played the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. The source said the discussion concerned their contract situations and later de-escalated, with the pair proceeding to call the game. The account has not been independently corroborated in the material reviewed. ESPN declined to comment on the reported incident.