Despite pleas to keep him, it looks like Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman’s days on Monday Night Football are numbered. The three-time Super Bowl champion’s long-time partner, Joe Buck, has already signed an extension with ESPN.

Aikman said in mid-October that there had been “no talks, no contract negotiations,” although subsequent reporting from Andrew Marchand indicated that Aikman’s representatives had discussed terms with ESPN and that the network views negotiations as paused.

That had led to speculation that ESPN could turn to another Hall of Fame Super Bowl-winning quarterback, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos star Peyton Manning.

Andrew Marchand Doubts Peyton Manning Will Replace Troy Aikman on MNF

Aikman joined Fox as a color commentator prior to the 2001 season and quickly ascended to the top spot before he and Buck left to join ESPN as the lead commentators of Monday Night Football. The move ended their 20-season tenure as the lead broadcast team on Fox.

Now, with the duo’s future together increasingly uncertain, rumors that Manning could replace Aikman have emerged. It makes a lot of sense. Manning is one of the most popular and well-known players in league history.

Not only is the two-time Super Bowl champion one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he has been featured in countless commercials, and his personality and humor have been widely praised. Plus, he already hosts an alternate broadcast with his brother Eli.

Longtime reporter Marchand believes he is the number one option.

“I think Peyton is the No. 1 choice to replace Aikman, but I don’t think he is the favorite,” Marchand wrote.

He added, “What does that mean? Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN’s chairman, will likely place a call to Peyton and pitch the idea of going into the booth. ESPN already has a huge contract with Manning and his Omaha Productions that includes, among other things, doing the Manningcast with his brother, Eli, for about 11 games.”

Despite all of that, Marchand doubts Manning would be interested in taking on the traditional booth role.

“In an ideal world, I could ESPN would love to team Peyton with Joe Buck,” Marchand said.

He continued, “That feels like Monday Night Football. Buck recently made his main residence in Denver and lives five minutes from Peyton, I was told. That said, Peyton has always said no to the booth. His WFH arrangement with Eli for the games they want to work is pretty sweet.”

“So it is more likely Peyton says no, though maybe they could setup a hybrid work environment for Eli and him, splitting the games and doing some together. It is probably more unlikely than likeley so … that would leave Olsen as the favorite. He wants the job. He is a really good analyst. So he is sort of the favorite — unless Peyton goes, “Omaha! Omaha!” and pulls an audible,” Marchand concluded.

It would be hard to leave the type of setup Manning has now and add a lot of extra travel, preparation, and work to Manning’s life.

Marchand goes on to name current Fox broadcaster Greg Olsen as the probable next option.