For two decades, Troy Aikman and Joe Buck defined what fans expected out of a broadcast booth. But behind the insight that defined six Super Bowls and over two decades in the broadcast booth was a man who rarely got credit. The brains behind every insight that seemed to appear at just the right time, whether it was a quarterback insight or that iconic play-by-play breakdown, was David Moulton. But going into Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season, Aikman and Buck will be without Moulton for the first time in a decade.

At 59, David Moulton passed away after a six-year battle with stage four renal cell cancer. Just last week, Aikman and Buck had mentioned Moulton’s struggles during the Commanders-49ers game. A few days later, Moulton’s wife, Julie, announced his passing on Saturday, October 24.

“It is with a completely shattered heart broken into a million pieces I share that my loving husband, David, died last night while in hospice care at the Douglas Center for Caring,” she wrote. “David battled stage four renal cell cancer for six long years. It metastasized to his bones two years ago. He never stopped fighting or trying new treatments. He loved life and loved each and every one of you more than words can express. We are so thankful for the love and support you all have given us.”

Moulton publicly discussed his cancer diagnosis in 2020 after discovering a large cancerous tumor around his kidney. He underwent surgery to remove his left kidney and initially reported encouraging results. His cancer later progressed to stage four and metastasized to his bones. His wife, Julie, said he continued pursuing treatments for six years before his death.

However, his passing was a surprise, as announcer Tim Brando explained. “Whatever happened to David it had to be sudden. We had just talked a few weeks ago. @TroyAikman reached out and told me I’d be hearing from him (David was extra eyes for him in the booth)as he also was for Gary Danielson @CBSSports for many years.”

After hearing of Moulton’s passing, Aikman took a moment to pay tribute to his longtime friend.

“Since 2018, David Moulton has been my right-hand man in the broadcast booth,” Aikman wrote on Instagram, while sharing a picture with Moulton from the booth. “What started as a professional relationship became a friendship I have cherished. David was loyal, dependable and a warrior until the very end. He deserved better. My heart breaks for his family and all who loved him. I’m grateful for the years we shared and will miss him deeply. Rest in peace big guy🙏🏼❤️.”

You see, after kicking off his career as a sports anchor in 1999, Moulton made his way to the NFL as a spotter. For the unversed, behind every broadcaster in the booth, a spotter works as a guide. If Aikman was talking about Dallas’ problems with the run game, the spotter would nudge him toward a good point to make.

All of it comes down to the relationship the broadcaster shares with his spotter. The spotter knows what subject the broadcaster would want to explore. After all, as Joe Buck once explained about the state of an NFL broadcast, “It’s a working kitchen at a diner back there.” Having a spotter in sync with the people in the booth is important.

A 2020 profile by The Ringer, titled “Meet the Man Who Makes Your Favorite Announcer Sound Smarter,” described how Moulton worked with Aikman and Buck. His responsibilities included identifying players, tracking timeouts, sharing observations about plays, and anticipating information the analysts might need.

And looking back at the relationship Moulton shared with Aikman and Buck, it was stronger than ever. After all, when Moulton worked alongside Buck during a golf broadcast, they clicked right away, and that’s when Buck suggested they bring him over.

That was a decision that paid off. Just take the 2020 Super Bowl. When Aikman asked his spotter what stuck out about the game, Moulton pointed to 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman. Aikman ran with it, and during the game, when Moulton saw Sherman line up over Travis Kelce, he nudged Aikman.

You’d think after all the insight he brought them, Moulton would have liked some credit, right? Except he refused. “Spotters don’t want to take credit for anything,” Moulton said. “Gary and Troy watch their own film, they do their own notes,” he added. “They’re doing 96 to 98 percent of the work. I’m just a helper is all I am.”

“I know they don’t need me,” Moulton said of Buck and Aikman years ago. “I kind of feel it’s like when you caddie for an elite golfer. You know that the golfer is going to be Top 3 in the world without you.”

Now, when Aikman and Buck are in the broadcast booth for ESPN’s first Super Bowl, which could be the final time for the duo, they will have to do without the ever-reliable Moulton.