When Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman was asked if longtime broadcasting partner Joe Buck could scrape by for a single yard in an NFL game, Troy did not mince his words. 

With loud and sharp laughter, the Cowboys legend suggested that Buck would not just fail to move the chains; you would also likely need a stretcher. It is a hilarious reality check for any person or NFL fan who has ever sat on a Sunday afternoon couch wondering how hard pro football really is. Even with decades of press-box film study, stepping between the white lines is a whole different beast.

According to an X post, Katsu Aikman was speaking to Travis Kelce on his podcast New Heights, and that is when these things got revealed. Travis Kelce said, “With a guy with as much football knowledge accumulated as Joe Buck, could Joe Buck get a yard in the NFL?”

Aikman replied, “There is no chance. None. None. Joe would not only not get a yard, but he also might not get up. I mean, come on. Are you serious?”

Travis Kelce immediately said, “My bad, Joe. I set Joe up for failure right there.” 

However, Aikman might be in fun and games here, but there is a little rift we need to discuss as well. 

Troy Aikman and Joe Buck ESPN story 

Before the duo blew up at each other in the SoFi Stadium TV booth before ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” game on Oct. 12, Aikman did have a tense one-hour chat with the network’s chairman, Jimmy Pitaro.

They discussed the rupture between Aikman and his longtime partner Buck. They also discussed whether there is a future for the duo. “Could you still work with Joe?” Pitaro asked. Yes, Aikman said, he could.

The duo’s argument in the booth that was first reported by Front Office Sports made this divide a public spectacle. According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Aikman’s team believes Buck is a “master of manipulating” and used that tactic to land his extension with ESPN. Buck’s side, on the other hand, has accused Aikman of “barking orders for replays he desired.”

While at a book signing for Peter King this week, Aikman said “there’s a 50-50 chance” he won’t be on TV next year.

If Aikman doesn’t land a broadcasting gig, he could end up working for Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

Written by

Tanushree Bhowmick

Edited by

Tanushree Bhowmick