ESPN\u2019s Joe Buck has agreed to a new contract worth more than $100 million that will keep him as the voice of \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d into the next decade, according to sources who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the agreement.<\/p>\n
The six-year extension is for around $108 million, the sources said, and means that Buck will not only call ESPN\u2019s first Super Bowl in February, but he will also be on the mic for the network\u2019s next one in 2031.<\/p>\n
Buck\u2019s yearly salary will rise from $15 million to around $18 million, according to the sources. He is in the final season of his current five-year, $75 million deal.<\/p>\n
Buck\u2019s partner, Troy Aikman, remains unsigned. Aikman\u2019s five-year, $90 million contract with ESPN ends after the Super Bowl. Buck and Aikman are in their 25th season together, which is the longest-running television booth pairing in NFL history.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this historic season for ESPN now underway, our entire focus is on bringing fans the best possible football coverage, culminating with our first Super Bowl,\u201d ESPN executive vice president of communications Josh Krulewitz said. \u201cTo that end, we won\u2019t be addressing talent contract specifics publicly before the Super Bowl.\u201d<\/p>\n
How much does it really cost to watch the NFL?<\/p>\n
Dan Shanoff and Reuben Pinder<\/p>\n
Five years ago, Buck and Aikman were two of the biggest moves during the 2022 offseason, the most frenzied in NFL broadcasting history. After Aikman and Buck left Fox for five-year ESPN deals worth a combined $165 million, Fox promoted Kevin Burkhardt to its No. 1 team and then inked Tom Brady to a 10-year, $375 million contract.<\/p>\n
Joe Davis succeeded Buck as Fox\u2019s play-by-play voice for the World Series. Fox has the rights to the Fall Classic for the next three seasons, including this October. Buck called a record 24 World Series on Fox.<\/p>\n
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro is interested in getting the rights to the World Series in 2029, according to sources briefed on ESPN\u2019s plans but not permitted to speak publicly. If ESPN were to swipe all or part of the World Series, Pitaro has told Buck he would like him to call it, the sources said. No provision in Buck\u2019s new contract guarantees that happens.<\/p>\n
With Disney-owned ESPN, Buck has also expanded outside of football, guest-hosting ABC\u2019s \u201cGood Morning America\u201d and leading a sports version of \u201cJeopardy\u201d on Disney+.<\/p>\n
Buck is one of the highest-paid on-air personalities at ESPN. Stephen A. Smith makes $21 million per year from the network. Pat McAfee is in talks that could pay him as much as $65 million per year.<\/p>\n
The McAfee contract is partly a production deal, and the two sides are still checking off items to reach the number. As The Athletic recently reported, one example is that the NFL still needs to sign off on McAfee\u2019s alternative \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d telecast.<\/p>\n
The exact amount of the wide-ranging deal between ESPN and Peyton Manning and his Omaha Productions is not known, but it is believed to be in the same neighborhood as Brady and McAfee.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of his new deal, Buck will be 63 and have broadcast eight Super Bowls on TV. Al Michaels and Pat Summerall have been on the TV call for the most Super Bowls in history, with 11 each.<\/p>\n
While Buck, 57, is now off the board, there is still a chance of another major transaction-filled sequel to the NFL TV talent madness of five years ago.<\/p>\n
Joining Aikman in the final season of their NFL contracts are Amazon Prime Video\u2019s \u201cThursday Night Football\u201d crew of Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit; CBS\u2019 No. 2 NFL game-caller Ian Eagle; Fox\u2019s Greg Olsen and CBS\u2019 interim No. 1 game analyst J.J. Watt<\/a>.<\/p>\n