Troy Aikman never thought he could speak on a broadcast for three hours. But sitting alongside Bill Sham, sharing analysis and chattering during the NFL’s Europe game in Berlin changed everything. After all, he had come prepared. By the end of that broadcast, when executive producer Ed Goren walked past the Fox control room, he had made up his mind. “We’ve got to hire him.”

For Troy Aikman, it wasn’t just a way of staying connected to the sport after retirement. That moment kicked off a broadcast career longer than his time at the Cowboys. Yet, even with three decades of experience on TV, Aikman finds himself being called out for his performance on air.  More interestingly, this isn’t the first time we’re hearing of this. 

“I don’t think [Troy Aikman] is that great on TV,” former FOX analyst LeSean McCoy revealed his honest opinion on the legendary quarterback on the September 7 episode of Speakeasy.

On paper, that sounds strange. Although Aikman hasn’t been making predictions like ‘Romostradamus’, he has been the voice of Monday Night Football for over 20 years. And as someone who has been on the field, Aikman brought an interesting perspective to the booth when he paired with Joe Buck. So why would McCoy call him out? 

“I think he’s just cool,” he said, before making another critical remark. “He just says what he sees. Nothing special. But when I look at his background check, I look at who he played with, when he played, the wins he had, the championships, the era with Jimmy Johnson, and all that, I would take him too. And you, with the brand of the cap, I would take you for that. It’s hard for me to push back because the resume checks the box.”

Now, we can see why McCoy would say so. During his prime, Aikman spent 12 years in the NFL, and all of it was with the Dallas Cowboys, the same time that established itself as one of the greatest dynasties of all time. And even though Aikman’s stats with the team come under the spotlight now and again, there’s no doubt about the silverware. 

His reign brought three Super Bowl wins to Dallas. Furthermore, Aikman was the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. He has received the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, Davey O’Brien Award, NFL Man of the Year (1997) honor, and a lot more. 

As a broadcaster, Aikman brings his personal experience as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback to the analysis desk. He brought a fan base that had watched him win year after year and lead the squad. To hear him let down his usual guarded outlook and then open up on air had fans keen on watching. 

But that’s where McCoy’s perspective may not reflect why Aikman grew popular. While Aikman’s time with the Cowboys opened the doors to broadcasting when persistent back issues forced him into retirement, he has established himself well since then. 

Aikman joined FOX Sports’ NFC telecast as a color commentator in 2001. He was paired with Joe Buck, and the two formed a duo that defined a generation of broadcasting, with the partnership being one of the longest-running among NFL analysts. 

ESPN Chairman James Pittaro admitted their work together was why they were brought over for Monday Night Football. “When you have the opportunity to bring in the iconic, longest-running NFL broadcasting duo, you take it, especially at a time when we are on the cusp of a new era in our expanding relationship with the NFL.” 

Despite that, McCoy, who was fired by FOX in July 2025 due to low ratings for his Speak, Breakfast Ball, and The Facility programs, believes Aikman was hired because of the Cowboys brand.

Interestingly, his opinion came just days after Cam Newton called out the league’s 2026 announcers lineup this week. Newton, an ESPN analyst, used his talk show 4th & 1 to highlight that the league’s announcers were all Caucasians. 

“Is it the position you played? Is it your resume as a player?” Newton asked on his talk show. “Or is it just the likability? Because if we’re talking about how did Kirk Herbstreit get that deal? We know how Tom Brady got his deal. How does Tony Romo get his deal? We know how Troy Aikman got his deal. How does Cris Collinsworth get his deal? These are all mainstream color commentators that we see. We’re seeing these faces, as if to say Charles Davis is not capable…RGIII is not capable. Jonathan Vilma, is he capable? Jason McCourty, is he capable?” 

“We’re talking about a sport that’s dominated by upwards of 75% minorities. But the people who are covering the sport to the world, giving color commentary, are Caucasians…There are more minority former players that are capable of holding their job similar to the guys who continue to get these jobs.” 

Nevertheless, Aikman also acts as an advisor to the Miami Dolphins. He has navigated potential conflicts between his ESPN role and Dolphins advisory position. But during his appearance on Dallas Dialogue with Dale Hansen, he explained why his role as an advisor won’t affect his relationships with the Dolphins. He confirmed that the team isn’t really a good one this year. And they don’t even have a Monday Night game. Yet, even without a connection to the teams, sports broadcasting can create conflicts between the franchises and the commentators. 

“Anyone behind a mic that’s calling a game, there’s a conflict of interest because you have relationships in this business,” Aikman explained. “I have friendships every week that I call a game, whether with a head coach or offensive coordinator or player or whoever it is… As long as you’re up front with the viewer and let them know the deal, they can take away from that whether you’re biased in your analysis.”

Aikman’s path from the gridiron to the broadcast booth has certainly paved the way for modern players to secure media contracts. He remains one of the most powerful voices in the football media. And as the 2026 season unfolds, Monday Night Football will certainly entertain the masses with Aikman in the central chair.