Report: Joe Buck to leave FOX, join Troy Aikman at ESPN

Troy Aikman shook up the NFL broadcasting world in stunning fashion recently when he reached an agreement with ESPN, and his longtime partner is reportedly going with him.

Joe Buck is expected to leave FOX to become the play-by-play announcer for “Monday Night Football,” Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports. FOX granted Buck permission to negotiate with ESPN on Friday, and a deal is expected to be finalized in the near future.

Buck had one year and $11 million remaining on his deal with FOX. There had been talk of ESPN and FOX agreeing to a trade for Buck, but Marchand reports that FOX is letting Buck out of his contract as a gesture of goodwill.

Buck’s deal with ESPN is expected to be in the $60-75 million range. Aikman agreed to an even bigger contract with ESPN, so the network was clearly committed to reviving its long-struggling “Monday Night Football” booth.

Buck had been at FOX since 1994. His departure means the network will also have to find another play-by-play announcer for MLB playoff games and the World Series.

Photo: Jan 14, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; FOX analyst Joe Buck before the NFC Divisional Playoff football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports