It feels inevitable that Troy Aikman will leave Monday Night Football (MNF) after his blow-up argument with Joe Buck, who signed a contract extension with ESPN.

Most would assume that someone like Greg Olsen—who was demoted from the top to second spot on FOX upon Tom Brady's arrival—could be courted to replace Aikman alongside Buck. However, Chris Simms has another name in mind.

During the Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, edition of Pro Football Talk, Simms and Mike Florio discussed Aikman potentially taking a job with the Dallas Cowboys, his former team. They feel it's inevitable that Aikman is replaced, and Simms said he feels that Peyton Manning could be brought in for MNF.

“My Spidey Senses tell me that they're gonna hire Peyton Manning to announce games next to Joe Buck next year,” Simms said about ESPN's future.

Florio still thinks Olsen will get the job, setting up a friendly wager with Simms. It would be surprising, as Manning jumping into the booth means the ManningCast would likely come to an end.

The ManningCast—which he co-hosts with his younger brother Eli Manning—has declined in ratings over the years. Maybe Peyton Manning sees the writing on the wall and wants to jump into the booth. The Manning brothers host the show from their respective homes.

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That would also give ESPN some stiff competition against FOX, whose lead analyst is Brady. Manning and Brady went head-to-head a lot over the years. Their rivalry could be renewed in a new way if Simms is correct.

Fans will have to wait and see what happens. Aikman could still potentially be re-signed by ESPN, but it looks unlikely. That would open up a coveted seat at the table. It will be interesting to see what happens.