NFL
Peyton Manning Is ‘No. 1 Choice’ to Replace Monday Night Football’s Troy Aikman but Not ‘the Favorite’
With Troy Aikman‘s time as a Monday Night Football commentator for ESPN coming to a close after Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, some people are wondering what comes next.
During a live Q&A with The Athletic‘s sports business reporter Andrew Marchand that took place on Monday, November 2, one person asked, “Why is Peyton Manning not the obvious choice to replace Aikman on MNF??? Peyton and Buck would be the all-time dream NFL booth.”
Aikman, 59, has served as a Monday Night Football commentator for ESPN since 2022, but his deal is set to expire, and he’ll soon be a free agent.
Marchand — previously a regular contributor to ESPN programs like SportsCenter and ESPNews — said, “I think Peyton is the No. 1 choice to replace Aikman, but I don’t think he is the favorite.
Marchand suggested that it’s likely ESPN chairperson Jimmy Pitaro will “place a call” to the former NFL quarterback, 50, “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,” Marchand said.
Marchand said that in “an ideal world,” he could see ESPN pairing Peyton with lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, adding: “That feels like Monday Night Football.”
According to Marchand, Buck recently “made his main residence in Denver and lives five minutes from Peyton.”
However, Marchand noted, “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.”
If Peyton were to say no, that would leave sportscaster Greg Olsen “as the favorite,” Marchand said. “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.”
Aikman recently addressed his broadcasting future on Mike Fisher‘s YouTube channel.
“As I’m into my last year at ESPN, I’m realizing that this is something that could very well be taken away from me,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed it. I’ve always known that. But until you risk having something taken away from you, I think sometimes you tend to maybe take things for granted.”
“This is a great profession,” Aikman said. “It’s been a great ride for me, and I hope that it’s not over. Time will tell.”
