Joe Buck and Troy Aikman’s 25-year broadcasting partnership could be in trouble amid a contract dispute at ESPN.

Buck signed a six-year, $108 million extension with the network in May, but the deal wasn’t made public until September. Aikman, whose contract is in its final year and who has yet to receive a new deal from the network, reportedly learned about Buck’s extension through media reports rather than directly from Buck or ESPN.

Things then got tense before the Rams-Bills game on Oct. 12, when Aikman reportedly told Buck, “You [expletive] me over.”

Now, legendary broadcaster Howard Stern has weighed in on the situation, arguing that Aikman should be upset with ESPN, not Buck.

Howard Stern Says ESPN Should Take the Blame

During his Monday morning show on SiriusXM, Stern suggested ESPN may have told Buck to keep his new contract under wraps rather than break the news to Aikman himself.

“Maybe ESPN came to Joe Buck and said, ‘Look, it’s not your place to inform Troy about our plans; it’s ours.’ I would say ESPN is who Troy should be mad at, not Joe,” Stern said.

However, Stern admitted that he would feel awkward in Buck’s position. He said it would be difficult to sign a long-term deal with SiriusXM or another company without telling his longtime co-host, Robin Quivers.

Stern signed a three-year deal with SiriusXM last December. The new contract reportedly reduced his work schedule and led to significant staff layoffs. Quivers appeared to know about the deal and the changes that came with it.

NFL Has “No Concern” About Buck and Aikman’s Partnership

Despite the reported disagreement, Buck and Aikman remain scheduled to call Super Bowl LXI in February 2027.

Speaking at the NFL’s fall owners’ meeting in New York last week, the league’s executive vice president and chief media officer Hans Schroeder said the league had no concerns about the broadcasting duo.

“No concern. I don’t know if you watched the game on Monday night. It was an incredible game, right? It was an incredible game and incredible coverage by Joe and Troy, just like they always do,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder believes the chemistry Buck and Aikman have built over more than two decades will continue to shine through, with the pair expected to bring the same level of professionalism to the upcoming Super Bowl.

While the NFL remains confident in the duo, Aikman has hinted at what could come next after this season. In a recent interview with a Dallas radio station, he indicated that he expects to become a free agent once the season ends.

That would give Aikman the opportunity to explore his options, whether he decides to stay with ESPN or consider offers from another network. He’s also been linked to a potential front-office role with the Dallas Cowboys, which would see him reunite with owner Jerry Jones.