Troy Aikman suffered a repeated case of mistaken identity during this week’s “Monday Night Football” game.
Aikman was on the call for ESPN during Monday’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston, Tex. Tampa Bay went on to win a 20-19 thriller after a go-ahead touchdown run by running back Rachaad White with just six seconds remaining.
RACHAAD. WHITE.
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 16, 2025
: #TBvsHOU on ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/QBTShD87Cs
Unfortunately for Aikman, he might have had a bit of trouble determining who exactly scored that touchdown for the Bucs. Throughout the game on Monday, Aikman kept on getting White mixed up with his fellow Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving.
Fans kept on commenting over social media about how Aikman was repeatedly mistaking White for Irving (and vice versa) over the course of the entire contest.
Troy Aikman has no idea that Bucky Irving and Rachaad White are different people
— Patrick (@thepattywheels) September 16, 2025
Troy Aikman has no idea which RB is Bucky Irving and which is Rachaad White. This has been going on for 2 hours
— Arroe Roberta (@Arroechinchilla) September 16, 2025
Troy Aikman not knowing the difference between Bucky Irving and Rachaad White is killing me
— ristian (@gonzoswrld_) September 16, 2025
Rachaad White: Gets a carry for a 1st down
— 🇵🇸 Monkey D(iego) Luffy *Future Pirate King* (@DiegoIsntFunny) September 16, 2025
Troy Aikman: Bucky Irving for a 1st down
Troy aikman has called rachaad white Bucky Irving 5x now man
— Handhelds & Pickleball (@XFactor_PB) September 16, 2025
Irving (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) and White (6-foot, 214 pounds) have slightly similar builds and were used largely interchangeably during Monday’s game (with the starter Irving getting 17 carries for 71 yards and White getting 10 carries for 65 yards). On top of that, Irving wears the No. 7 jersey, and White wears the No. 1 jersey, so that may have been hard to distinguish from up in the broadcast booth.
Still, Aikman is developing a bit of a reputation for inaccuracy on the mic. During another “Monday Night Football” game last season, the Pro Football Hall of Famer had to correct himself over an on-air comment.
