Troy Aikman was a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys, and his ties to the franchise have continued long since his retirement in April 2001.
Aikman has been a color commentator and has been paired with Joe Buck for the past 25 years, but there's reportedly friction between the two after Buck has signed a new six-year contract with ESPN to continue as play-by-play man of Monday Night Football, while Aikman hasn't received a formal offer in the last year of his contract. Per Tim Cowlishaw, Aikman said on Wednesday that there's just a "50-50" chance he will be a broadcaster next season.
If Aikman were to seek other opportunities, he may have one waiting for him with the Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appears to love the prospect of bringing Aikman back to the organization.
Earlier this week, Jones was asked if he'd consider adding Aikman to the Cowboys' front office, to which Jones said he "could and would."
"He is a successful guy because he is one of the hardest working, most focused people that I've ever been around. Now, when you're around each other, a part of that make up can make it where you can have your ups and downs. But I think the world of him," Jones said, per Cowboys team reporter Tommy Yarrish. "I've seen his image and had it in my eyes since I walked in the NFL. He's outstanding. The answer is not that necessarily we're going to do something more direct with the team at this time, but don't rule it out, it's very possible."

#cowboys #year #contract

Troy Aikman and his girlfriend, Marisa Howard, celebrated a milestone in style this week, enjoying an intimate birthday dinner at an upscale Dallas restaurant.
Howard, 40, took to her Instagram Story to share a snapshot of the 59-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer with his arm wrapped around her and captioned the post, "Best night." Aikman reposted the image before sharing a rare photo set go photos on Instagram with the caption, "Happy Birthday Beautiful."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by troy aikman (troyaikman)
The romance between the pair first captured public attention when D Magazine reported last year that they were spotted taking hot yoga classes together in Dallas. At the time, Howard was going through a divorce from her ex-husband, Frank Howard Jr., whom she filed to split from in July 2024. Howard shares two daughters with her ex and previously worked as the director of communications for his company, GeneIQ, a molecular diagnostic laboratory.

#Instagram #aikman

Troy Aikman's time with ESPN could be coming to an end, but another chapter of his life is flourishing. Aikman, who has been married and divorced twice, started dating model and author of the children's book series "Sissies Adventure Series", Marisa Howard in 2025. The two seem to be in a happy relationship, and Aikman made sure to honor his partner on her special day.
Aikman celebrated by posting a carousel of three pictures on his personal Instagram handle, with a simple message wishing Howard a happy birthday.
"Happy Birthday Beautiful❤️," Aikman wrote.
"Thank you babe!" Howard responded in the comments.
See how the NFL community rallied around Troy Aikman's girlfriend on her special milestone. Subscribe to stay updated on the personal moments that matter to football's biggest names.

#aikman #howard #troy #birthday

The day has finally arrived!
The Denver Broncos are on the road under the prime time lights of Monday Night Football to try to prove to the world that the AFC West has truly had a changing of the guard. These Kansas City Chiefs are a tough home opponent and it shouldn't be easy for Denver by any measure, but if they can pull off an upset and steal a road win in division it would be huge for their chances to repeat as AFC West champs this season.
Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. Mile High time on Monday, September 14, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. You can watch the live stream of the game through FuboTV or on ESPN. The game will be called by Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst), with Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge (sideline). You can also check local Broncos radio network affiliate stations.
Sign up for a user account and get:
Fewer ads

#city

Cam Newton is calling out the commonality between Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Cris Collinsworth, Kirk Herbstreit, Tony Romo, and J.J. Watt.
After Dan Le Batard highlighted the perpetual cycle of white guys getting most NFL broadcasting jobs, especially in primetime, Newton continued the conversation on his 4th & 1 show, wondering what metric networks use to hire ******* ysts.
"Is it the position you played? Is it your resume as a player?" Newton asked. "Or is it just the likability? Because if we're talking about how did Kirk Herbstreit get that deal? We know how Tom Brady got his deal. How does Tony Romo get his deal? We know how Troy Aikman got his deal. How does Cris Collinsworth get his deal? These are all mainstream color commentators that we see. We're seeing these faces, as if to say Charles Davis is not capable…RGIII is not capable. Jonathan Vilma, is he capable? Jason McCourty, is he capable?"
Newton went on to note Louis Riddick briefly had a primetime ******* yst role on Monday Night Football until ESPN tapped him on the shoulder to say Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were taking over. Newton also cited Nate Burleson and Michael Strahan as NFL players turned media personalities who are more than qualified to be a lead ******* yst on a primetime game.
"Do you not think Ryan Clark is capable? We've seen it," Newton continued. "Brandon Marshall, he's a sharp guy. You got a guy like Emmanuel Acho, who verbally, his vernacular can hold its own with whoever. Do you always have to be a quarterback? Well, J.J. Watt's not a quarterback. Luke Kuechly is not a quarterback. So what's the metric here?"

#deal #troy #aikman #primetime

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman has spent his life surrounded by elite stardom, crossing paths with some of the biggest names on the planet. Unsurprisingly, standard celebrity status rarely dazzles him anymore. Yet, even an NFL legend has a bucket list, and standing at the top of his is a dream meeting with Sylvester Stallone, the cinematic mastermind behind Rocky, Rambo, and The Expendables.
So when Stallone announced that his eldest daughter, Sophia, got engaged to her boyfriend, Michael Sheehan, Aikman chimed in with his wishes for the Stallone family.
"Congratulations, Sophia!❤️," Aikman commented on Stallone's Instagram post. "And you too, champ????."
On Friday, Sophia revealed the happy news on her Instagram, sharing pictures from Michael's proposal. The two posed for the camera with Sophia flaunting the diamond on her finger.
Troy Aikman's been a fixture in the NFL conversation for decades. Subscribe for more interesting stories.

#rocky

Troy Aikman won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, but Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo also believes he and Joe Buck deserve credit for bringing one to ESPN.
During his Mad Dog Unleashed radio show on SiriusXM earlier this week, Russo was discussing Tony Romo's future with CBS, guessing the network would love to use his recent arrest as cause to absolve themselves from the rest of the 10-year, $180 million contract he signed in 2020. And if they do get out from under Romo's contract, Russo believes the era of networks paying ***** ysts tens of millions of dollars might be over.
"Now listen, Aikman and Buck got a fortune," Russo admitted. "But they also brought a Super Bowl to ESPN, because I don't know if they would have gotten a Super Bowl unless they had those guys because that's how important they are, Aikman and Buck…so a little different for them. But to pay the top guys $17 million to do the games, we're gonna watch the games no matter what. Not one announcer – and that includes Madden – if you gave Madden a lousy game, you're not gonna watch it…nobody is watching these games to see the announcers."
The stars aligned for Romo to land a $180 million contract from CBS thanks in part to ESPN driving the price up as they vied for his services on Monday Night Football. But falling short in the Romo sweepstakes six years ago turned out to be a great thing for ESPN. Because while CBS was left with what eventually became a Romo problem, ESPN had the flexibility to eventually pluck Buck and Aikman from Fox two years later.
ESPN undoubtedly got the better option for Monday Night Football by landing Buck and Aikman instead of Romo, but the Super Bowl was coming their way regardless. ESPN and ABC got back into the Super Bowl rotation when they signed their 10-year rights agreement with the NFL in 2021. Buck and Aikman didn't move over from Fox until 2022.

#russo #million

A "Monday Night Football" mainstay is going to have to change up his routine this season. Former Dallas Cowboys great Troy Aikman will be subject to the "Tom Brady rules" this season, per Front Office Sports.
The Brady rules were put into place following Brady's rise as a broadcaster with Fox. After it was noted that Brady was also a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, a possible conflict of interest, the NFL put restrictions on Brady's access to other teams.
In addition to serving as a broadcaster on "Monday Night Football," Aikman also consults for the Miami Dolphins. He reportedly played a role in the team hiring general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley this offseason.
As part of the Brady rules, Brady — and now Aikman — will not have "access to practice facilities or practices," NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports.
"Both may attend production meetings virtually but will have no access to practice facilities or practices. They may conduct interviews outside team facilities with football personnel and players. They could conduct the interview at the team hotel in an area separate from other football personnel. They could broadcast games involving their own club."

#access #Monday

What is a conflict of interest anymore when it comes to play-by-play broadcasting? Last year, this was one of the more debated topics in sports media. Now, it has new life. Friday, the NFL announced that the "Tom Brady Rules" will also apply to ESPN Monday Night Football ****** yst Troy Aikman.
Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He also is the lead ****** yst for FOX Sports NFL coverage. The rules, at first, were simple. He couldn't enter another team's facility or observe its practices. He also couldn't publicly criticize officials or other teams, and he couldn't attend broadcast production meetings either in person or virtually. Last year, good behavior by Brady — and likely some pressure from FOX Sports — relaxed the rules on Brady. This year, the rules extend to Troy Aikman.
But the NFL's explanation for why the extension to Aikman makes me wonder who these rules protect in the first place.
This past offseason, Aikman ****** isted the Miami Dolphins with hiring a new general manager and head coach. During a podcast episode featuring former WFAA sports anchor Dale Hansen, Aikman said his role with the Dolphins was approved by Commissioner Roger Goodell. He has also stated that he sees a day when he could be working for an NFL franchise in some capacity.
The two situations are different. Brady owns a minority stake, so he's financially invested in the success of a franchise. Aikman loaned his services but doesn't have a financial stake in the Miami Dolphins' success.

#couldn 't #last

One of the most polarizing figures in sports media is none other than ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. Depending on who you ask, there are plenty of reasons to either love or dislike Smith.
From his over-the-top television personality and controversial takes to, at times, uninformed ****** ysis, and political commentary, Smith draws viewers while also opening the door for controversy.
This week, Smith was voted for an award by the National ****** ociation of Black Journalists (NABJ). However, it was not a flattering award. According to multiple reports, Smith received the organization's "Thumbs Down" award.
MORE: NFL puts restrictions on Troy Aikman after accepting Dolphins consulting role
"Stephen A. Smith. Sports ****** yst and political commentator. Smith has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media. Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ's longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities." the NABJ said in a statement.

#Media

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was checked for concussions five times during his rookie NFL season in 2025, and he was diagnosed with one official concussion that forced him to miss two games. ESPN Monday Night Football color commentator Troy Aikman even admitted that he's "worried about" Dart's play style, which has resulted in the quarterback taking a substantial number of big hits.
The Giants had their preseason opener on Saturday, and Dart took a massive hit from Vikings safety Jay Ward to end the first quarter. In this case, there wasn't much Dart could do, as Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. missed a block. Dart remained on the ground for a few seconds.
After the play, Dart was taken to the blue medical tent for a concussion test, as requested by a medical spotter. He was cleared a few plays later and threw a touchdown pass on his first play back.
Later, during an in-game interview on the local Giants broadcast, Dart said, "I'm not gonna talk too much about the tent."
Well, after the game, Dart did have more to say about his frequent trips to the blue medical tent.

#Giants #tent #quarterback #first

While the NFL won't keep broadcasters from having direct relationships with teams (it should), restrictions will apply to anyone who chooses to own or work for one of the 32 franchises.
After initially saying that Troy Aikman's role with the Dolphins will be addressed at the appropriate time, the fact that the season is approaching has made the time appropriate. And, like Fox ******* yst/Raiders owner Tom Brady, ESPN ******* yst/Dolphins employee Troy Aikman will have restrictions regarding his TV job.
"The same parameters that pertained to Tom last season will continue this year and also will apply to Troy," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Mark Maske of Front Office Sports.
So what are the parameters that will apply to Brady and Aikman?
"Both may attend production meetings virtually but will have no access to practice facilities or practices," McCarthy said. "They may conduct interviews outside team facilities with football personnel and players. They could conduct the interview at the team hotel in an area separate from other football personnel. They could broadcast games involving their own club."

#troy #brady #appropriate #time

Troy Aikman confesses about his "ridiculous" daily routine to protect brain after surviving 10 career concussions originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Troy Aikman took some brutal hits during his 12 years playing quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, racking up 10 documented concussions before he finally retired in 2001. Things got scary toward the end of his career when he suffered four concussions in just his last 20 starts. Aikman still calls two of those injuries severe.
Back then, the NFL didn't consider those head traumas as seriously as it does now, so he was constantly thrown back into games without any of the medical protocols or safety checks that players get today.
The best example happened during the 1993 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. Aikman took a knee to the head from a 49ers defender. According to reports, the hit caused temporary amnesia. He had to watch the film later just to see what happened.
Now at 58, Aikman openly admits he thinks about the long-term effects from time to time, but he doesn't let it ruin his life.

#aikman #troy #head

There are dozens and dozens of not only great players, but phenomenal players in the history of the NFL. Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports recently published his list of the top 100 players in NFL history. Cincinnati Bengals great Anthony Munoz landed at No. 19, being proclaimed as the best left tackle in NFL history.
To understand how big of a feat that is, let's take a look at some of the previous Bengals before and after Munoz, as well as other players Munoz landed in front of on the list.
On the Bengals side, you're looking at players like Ken Anderson, Ken Riley, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, A.J. Green, Corey Dillon, James Brooks and Tim Krumrie, with a dozen more to list.
Now, league-wide, Munoz landed in front of Marcus Allen, Steve Van Buren, Troy Aikman, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg and Mike Ditka, to name a few.
Munoz, a Hall of Famer and Bengals Ring of Honor member, is considered one of the best linemen in NFL history. He was the third overall pick by the Bengals in the 1980 NFL Draft, though it was considered a risky move at the time with his injury history.

#bengals #munoz #list

The first hint came in April, when Joe Buck declared that he'd like to spend the rest of his career at ESPN — with the caveat that no talks had commenced on a contract that expires after the upcoming season.
With the upcoming season coming very soon, both Buck and on-air partner Troy Aikman are entering the final years of their deals together.
Via Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, CAA now represents both Buck and Aikman. As McCarthy notes, it's possible that CAA will negotiate them as a package deal.
Both signed five-year deals for Monday Night Football in 2022. ESPN pays Aikman $18 million per year, while Buck gets $15 million annually.
It's hard to imagine both leaving, primarily since there won't be many high-rent spots where both could go together.

#buck #aikman #deals

It is Day 43 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn't depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we'll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed.
Welcome back as we get to Day 43 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit another chapter in what was unquestionably the NFL's premier rivalry of the 1990s. By the time the Cowboys traveled to Candlestick Park in Week 11 of the 1996 season, Dallas and San Francisco had met in the previous four NFC Championship Games, splitting them two apiece. Even though this was a regular-season matchup, it carried the feel of January football.
San Francisco controlled the first quarter. Jeff Wilkins opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal, then Steve Young found Iheanyi Uwaezuoke for a 29-yard touchdown. The 49ers led 10-0, while Dallas struggled to establish Emmitt Smith or generate any consistent rhythm against one of the league's strongest defenses.
The Cowboys finally responded late in the second quarter. Troy Aikman finished a lengthy drive by scrambling three yards for a touchdown with 32 seconds remaining before halftime. That cut San Francisco's lead to 10-7 and gave Dallas something tangible from a first half in which the 49ers had largely dictated the game.
The matchup changed when Young was knocked out after taking multiple sacks from the Dallas defence. He had completed seven of 13 passes for 83 yards and the early touchdown before Elvis Grbac took over. Grbac had tormented Dallas in San Francisco's 38-20 win at Texas Stadium the previous season, but this time the Cowboys pressured him into mistakes.

#dallas

COOPERSTOWN, NY — The trio comes from Curaçao, Puerto Rico and California.
They played center field and second base.
They played for 18 different teams, with two of them teammates for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, here they are together, Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent, who will be immortalized Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with a record 60 Hall of Famers expected to be in attendance, including Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.
Most arrived in Cooperstown already, with Wade Boggs stealing the show Thursday afternoon by kneeling down and officially proposing to Debbie Boggs at the Otesaga Hotel, 50 years after already being married.

#cooperstown #cura #puerto #california

We've reached Day 51 in our countdown to the New Orleans Saints' 2026 season opener, so we're looking back to 1999 for our Saints Play of the Day. A rookie quarterback stunned the Dallas Cowboys in front of a big crowd when Jake Delhomme scored a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eddie Kennison. You can see it for yourself right here.
While the Saints jumped out to a surprising 10-0 lead early on, the Cowboys fought back to get ahead 17-10 midway through the third quarter. So imagine their surprise when Delhomme struck back to tie it all up? It was a great throw off of play action, traveling from the New Orleans 41-yard line to the Dallas 19, where Kennison corralled the catch and jogged into the end zone. The Cowboys had Hall of Famers like Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders on their side, and it didn't matter.
This is a game we've highlighted before; Saints cornerback Fred Weary picked off Aikman and scored the game-winning touchdown on a Smith fumble recovery. Good on him and Delhomme for making such a difference. This was a big win for a Saints team that really needed it. New Orleans went into the game with a 2-12 record, and this ended up being a great gift for fans on Christmas Eve. They couldn't sustain that success, but with wins so rare in those days, this became an easy rallying point for fans to enjoy late in a lost season.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Jake Delhomme's 51-yard touchdown pass is the Saints Play of the Day

#saints

ESPN and the rest of the sports media industry were left reeling Tuesday as the Mothership ejected approximately 10 on-air talents, while pink-slipping a large contingent of behind-the-scenes staffers at NFL Network.
After speaking with multiple sources, here are my five takeaways from the layoffs, which included ESPN dropping talents such as Ryan Clark, Karl Ravech, David Lloyd, Tom Pelissero, Cam Newton, and Bart Scott:
Chairman Jimmy Pitaro made it clear that ESPN's biggest round of layoffs in three years was tied directly to Disney's acquisition of NFL Network. Anytime two companies merge, the bean counters look at who's doing what. When they find two people doing the same job—or close to it—one goes out the door.

That's what's happening as ESPN absorbs a network it competed with for over 20 years. ESPN has made "significant progress" integrating NFLN, Pitaro wrote in an internal memo obtained by Front Office Sports. But as always with mergers, it "had to make some difficult decisions," added Pitaro.
ESPN will broadcast its first-ever Super Bowl from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Feb. 14, 2027. Televising a Super Bowl has been a corporate dream of ESPN's since its founding as a scrappy wannabe in 1979. ESPN management and parent company Disney are laser-focused on creating the best, most thorough Super Bowl coverage ever. Anybody on-air during what ESPN is humbly calling its "Year of the Super Bowl" will go down in company history. The competition for those choice on-air slots will be brutal.
The game announce team of Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, Lisa Salters, and Laura Rutledge are locks. Ditto for Sunday NFL Countdown regulars Mike Greenberg, Rex Ryan, Randy Moss, Alex Smith, Tedy Bruschi and Adam Schefter. And look for legendary anchor Chris Berman to play a major role as the living embodiment of ESPN's 47-year history.

#espn #network #sports #talents

The White Sox added a potential cornerstone player by selecting UCLA shortstop Daniel Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft, with the toss-up between Cholowsky and prep SS Grady Emerson lasting deep into Saturday morning. But word broke from MLB's Jim Callis right before the pick announcement that Cholowsky — the presumptive No. 1 since the end of the 2025 draft — would join the White Sox. Minutes later, commissioner Rob Manfred made it official, welcoming Rob "Cha-lew-sky" (sic) to Chicago.
In doing so, Cholowsky becomes just the third college shortstop ever selected first overall, joining Bill Almon (1974) and Dansby Swanson (2015). Although neither player went on to a Hall of Fame career, that's rare company, and another indication of just how highly Cholowsky is regarded.
Cholowsky also becomes the fifth UCLA player selected No. 1 overall in a pro draft, a group that includes Gerrit Cole, Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Troy Aikman and
As the draft came closer, some of the conversation for No. 1 overall has shifted to the other prime prospects, Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey and Emerson. That turned out to be a case of overall draft fatigue and prospect evaluators rationalizing their professions, as Cholowsky has been at or near No. 1 overall in mock drafts for essentially a solid year now. The right-handed hitter entered the spring with a reputation for elite bat-to-ball skills and polished defense, then strengthened his case by continuing to produce throughout the 2026 season.
Cholowsky as Chicago's pick indicates the White Sox went with the prospect many evaluators considered the most complete position player in the class. Cholowsky offers an advanced offensive approach, dependable defense at shortstop, and the kind of all-around game that gives him both a high floor and an equally enticing ceiling.

Dolphins' Jeff Hafley Speaks out on Troy Aikman's Consulting Role

Troy Aikman is the latest former NFL player to engage in two different roles that could create a conflict of interest for the league. But that doesn’t appear to be on the mind for Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley.
While speaking to reporters Tuesday, the head coach suggested Aikman has been helpful as a team consultant the past few months. Hafley also made clear that he has no qualms about continuing to use the ESPN broadcaster as a resource.
“I think, right now, Troy has been a good sounding board,” Hafley said. “He’s

NFL declines comment on Troy Aikman's recent comments about his role with Dolphins

Tom Brady blazed the trail. Troy Aikman is now walking the same path.
Brady wears a pair of conflicting hats, covering the entire league as an employee at Fox while owning a piece of the Raiders. Aikman's short-term stint as a consultant for Miami's G.M. and head-coaching hires (both of which they may have nailed) has morphed into an ongoing role that has yet to be fully defined.
The apples-to-apples Brady comparison is unmistakable. An ***** yst who calls games involving all teams has a financial interest