Uncertainty around the future of Troy Aikman’s analyst career has run rampant over the past few weeks, and rumors have only continued to swirl after a long conversation between Aikman and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Aikman recently expressed interest in potentially reuniting with the Cowboys in a front office role as his broadcasting future remains uncertain, and then said he felt he put Jones in a “really unfair spot” as speculation swirled.
“The last thing I want is – I was answering a question, and I think it’s really unfair to Jerry that he then has to answer these questions,” Aikman told “The Musers” on Dallas’ The Ticket sports radio. “As far as, ‘Hey, would you bring Troy back, or would you have a role for him?’ I mean, there’s no real good answer that he could give.”
Aikman brought up the topic with Jones before the “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Eagles and Cowboys in Philadelphia, which Aikman called alongside Joe Buck for ESPN.
“We briefly touched on it just because I felt that maybe I backed him into a corner that he didn’t deserve to be backed into,” Aikman said. “He didn’t ask for it. And so, we’re clear on that. He totally understood, and yet, he was very complimentary if something like that were to ever take place with the idea that we’re not having those conversations at this time.”
The potential new wrinkle comes after a reported argument between longtime booth partners Buck and Aikman, with ESPN showing little interest in extending Aikman after giving Buck a huge extension. Buck and Aikman have worked together for 25 years, making them the longest-running booth in NFL history.
Jones made it clear this week he’s open to a reunion with the QB he spent his first-ever pick on as Cowboys owner.
“The answer is not necessarily that we’re going to do anything more direct with the team at this time, but don’t rule it out,” he said during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan. “It is very possible.”
