Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman has talked openly for years about wanting to work in an NFL front office. He took a half-step in that direction last year, becoming a consultant to the Dolphins and continuing to work for the team while also working for Monday Night Football.
In March, Aikman spoke openly about the Cowboys’ historical lack of interest in pursuing his services. Now that Aikman’s time with ESPN is by all appearances moving toward a conclusion, Aikman seems to be extending an olive branch toward Cowboys owner and G.M. Jerry Jones.
Asked by Mike Fisher whether Aikman would break bread with Jerry Jones, Aikman said this: “I would have lunch, breakfast, or dinner with Jerry any time he wants it. And it wouldn’t necessarily have to be because it’s a job interview. Just because, you know, we go back a long way. . . . I came in, I was 22 years old. I was his very first draft pick. There’s a lot within that relationship, both from the beginning, when he began as the owner, when I began my NFL career as a quarterback for 12 years of my life, playing for him, and then, even in the years that have followed, you know, we’ve been through a lot. We’ve been through the highest of highs, we’ve been through some pretty tough moments as well. Our relationship is complicated. I think he would agree with that, but it is one that’s built, I believe, on respect. This week, he said some really kind things, which meant a lot to me, quite honestly. So, yeah, I would welcome any conversation with Jerry, and quite honestly I don’t know if there would be, or if there ever would be an opportunity. But if Jerry came to me and felt that, in his heart, I could lend some services that would help make them better, I would — I’d have a hard time not taking a good look at that.”
Jones did indeed speak glowingly about Aikman during this week’s quarterly NFL ownership meetings.
“Troy is very capable, and he’s so, really relatively speaking, he’s in his youth as careers go,” Jones said. “And he’s very capable of doing any one of a number of things, certainly anything to do with football. I don’t know of any area short of getting that kind of feeling, I don’t know of any area that Troy Aikman wouldn’t be qualified and competent to go into.”
Aikman’s current role with the Dolphins remains fluid and undefined, but it was enough to prompt the NFL to place Tom Brady-style restrictions on his ability to enter the facilities of other teams or to attend practices before Monday night games.
Despite Aikman’s unfulfilled aspiration to work in a front office, he seems to be realizing that his time as a broadcaster could be ending — and he’s apparently feeling some regret over that.
“As I’m into my last year at ESPN, I’m realizing that this is something that could very well be taken away from me,” Aikman told Fisher, via Tyler Lauletta of Awful Announcing. “For the first time, I’m realizing how much I really do — I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always known that. But until you risk having something taken away from you, I think sometimes you tend to maybe take things for granted.
“And so, for the first time probably in my career, I’m realizing, you know, this is a great profession. It’s been a great ride for me, and I hope it’s not over. Time will tell. But, yeah. So, we’ll see. I’m excited about what the rest of this year holds, and I’m excited to finally get back into the booth for a Super Bowl.”
With CBS already deciding to make J.J. Watt the full-time replacement for Tony Romo, there may not be a high-profile (and high-paying) seat for Aikman in 2027. If he truly wants to continue to call games, the best spot could be Greg Olsen’s current slot as the No. 2 NFL announcer on Fox. And the money that goes with that assignment.
It’s still not clear why ESPN has apparently soured on Aikman. Maybe he overplayed his hand, by reportedly asking for $30 million per year. Maybe ESPN wasn’t thrilled by his Miami moonlighting, especially since it has complicated his ability to be as prepared to call games as he could be. (It’s also possible that Aikman took the position with the Dolphins before running it by anyone at ESPN, which if accurate would tend to impair the relationship between ESPN and Aikman.)
Regardless, Aikman is now making it known that his upcoming free agency sweeps more broadly than broadcasting. He’s also officially in play for the Cowboys or any other team that may choose to consider hiring him.