The ESPN-Troy Aikman seems to be escalating; on Thursday, Aikman created the clear impression that he’ll be leaving Monday Night Football after the 2026 season.

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At a time when a sense is growing that Troy Aikman will be leaving ESPN/ABC after the 2026 season, Aikman seems to be dealing with a vague situation in the same way a Hall of Fame quarterback would.

By not shying away from it, and by not mincing words.

Appearing Thursday morning on 96.7 The Ticket in Dallas, Aikman was specifically asked about Wednesday’s account of tension between him and 25-year on-air partner Joe Buck, which reportedly resulted in a recent argument between them.

“There’s probably a time and a place for all that,” Aikman said, via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t know if now is the time. I don’t know if it’s hard to figure out kind of what happened. I’ll broadcast through this season and I’ll be a free agent at the end of the year and kind of see what happens. I’m looking forward to whatever the rest of this season does hold and the Super Bowl and all that and where my next landing spot may be.”

While Aikman opted not to address the situation with Buck — while also not denying the existence of tension — Aikman’s words strongly suggest that he plans to leave Monday Night Football when his contract expires after Super Bowl LXI.

He said he’ll “be a free agent.” He said he’ll look forward to “where my next landing spot will be.”

When Aikman addressed the situation last month, after news emerged that Buck had signed a new five-year deal, Aikman’s approach had more of a wait-and-see vibe. Now, the message seems to be more like, “See you later.”

It’s stunning that all of this is coming to a head with so many weeks left in the 2026 season. Throw in the fact that ESPN is televising its first-ever Super Bowl, and the Buck-Aikman relationship becomes a focal point as the year continues to unfold.

It all culminates in a four-hour broadcast that will be watched by well over 100 million people, and that could end with Aikman singing off not by signing Turn Out The Lights, The Party’s Over but by quoting the chorus of Take This Job And Shove It.