Overview
- Aikman disclosed the near-retirement decision during a December 2025 appearance on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast.
- He said he felt unexpectedly empty after calling the Giants’ upset of the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII and wondered if he was in the wrong profession.
- The episode occurred early in his on-air partnership with Joe Buck, during their sixth season together and just their second Super Bowl.
- Aikman and Buck are now in their 24th season as a duo after moving from Fox to ESPN, where they lead Monday Night Football.
- Aikman reported growing enjoyment of the job and offered no timeline for stepping away, though he does not expect to work into his 70s.