Joe Buck and Troy Aikman signal a return to big-time TV for ‘Monday Night Football’

Russell Wilson to Denver.

Carson Wentz to Washington.

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to “Monday Night time Soccer.”

ESPN made one of many greatest strikes of the offseason, snagging Fox’s No. 1 saying group in one other try and return the long-running NFL prime-time broadcast to its former glory.

Buck’s annual wage will likely be within the neighborhood of $15 million and Aikman’s is likely to be $2 million to $3 million increased, in response to a number of media experiences. The New York Submit experiences each offers are for 5 years.

Peyton and Eli Manning additionally will return with their alternate broadcast of the “MNF” sport on ESPN2.

Buck and Aikman will exchange the three-man sales space of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick and Brian Griese (2020-21), which changed play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore (2018-19) and shade analysts Jason Witten (2018) and Booger McFarland (2018-19).

Whereas the “MNF” sales space appears to have had a revolving door in recent times, this transfer appears totally different.

This time, the present isn’t reaching, as it did by bringing in guys equivalent to Tony Kornheiser or Dennis Miller previously. And the viewers aren’t going to need to witness a bunch of fellows thrown collectively for the primary time and attending to know one another on the air.

As an alternative, they’re getting Buck and Aikman, two well-respected broadcasters who’re coming into their third decade of calling NFL video games collectively. Whereas it won’t be a return to the glory years of Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell, the brand new sales space appears to sign a return to the massive time for the 52-year-old program.

“My earliest reminiscences of strolling round soccer stadiums are tagging together with my dad as he referred to as ‘Monday Night time Soccer’ on radio,” Buck stated in an announcement.

“To return to the stadium on Monday nights with Troy — who I’ve the utmost consolation with and confidence in — and start a brand new chapter, for us and ESPN, has me enthusiastic about this season and our future.”

Aikman tweeted: “Like most children of my technology, I grew up watching MNF w Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell & my mother’s favourite Don Meredith so you may solely think about my pleasure to be a part of the legacy of MNF & proceed working w Joe Buck, my broadcast companion for the final 20 years!”