After a period of relative calm among top NFL color analysts, all three of Troy Aikman, Greg Olsen, and Kirk Herbstreit are entering the final season of their contracts in 2026.
This puts two recent Sports Emmy winners for top game commentator and one of the voices of the upcoming Super Bowl all in line for contract negotiations into next winter. And as CBS Sports considers its next move with Tony Romo following an OWI arrest in Wisconsin last month, the expiring contracts of these three stars makes the pecking order across the industry more uncertain.
Puck’s John Ourand reported Olsen’s contract status this week, adding to previously known timelines for Aikman and Herbstreit. Olsen called a Super Bowl and won an Emmy during his time in Fox’s No. 1 booth before ceding the spot to future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who is making $37.5 million annually and figures to have that seat as long as he wants it. The former star tight end has made no secret of his desire to return to a top booth, meaning that if there is an opening at another network, Olsen is almost a guarantee to explore it. In fact, his current contract includes a clause that lets him bolt for a top job should one become available.
Aikman is among the most highly paid analysts in the sport with his $18.5 million salary, and since joining ESPN alongside his broadcast partner Joe Buck four years ago has reasserted his claim as perhaps the best as well. Provided he can continue his strong run on his way to calling a seventh Super Bowl (and ESPN’s first), Aikman should command another significant payday. Aikman and Buck, also a free agent after the season, have added sorely needed stability to Monday Night Football for the Worldwide Leader. Perhaps the biggest question with Aikman is whether he wants to continue broadcasting at all. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has shown a growing interest in front office roles, recently serving as an advisor for the Miami Dolphins. If the allure of management gets the better of Aikman, things could get quite interesting at ESPN.
It is Herbstreit, though, whose status is most interesting. His partner, the 81-year-old Al Michaels, has operated largely year-to-year since joining Prime Video. As a result, many have assumed the booth could open up sooner than later. Herbstreit has one of the most absurd travel schedules in all of sports media as a panelist on College GameDay (where his contract also expires this year) and ESPN’s top college football game analyst in addition to Thursday Night Football duties.
Relatedly, Amazon is expected to vie for a Super Bowl on its next rights deal with the NFL, making it an even more appealing landing spot for Herbstreit’s potential replacement. Ian Eagle, already the voice of the NBA on Prime Video, figures to be a key candidate to take over Michaels’ spot. This would likely only add to the appeal of Prime Video, given Eagle’s reputation for working well with analysts.
At the start of the NFL season, J.J. Watt will be in Romo’s place in CBS’ top booth. CBS has not announced who will fill in for Watt alongside Eagle in the No. 2 booth — or Romo’s fate beyond his current leave of absence.
NBC’s Cris Collinsworth also would have become a free agent after 2026 if not for an extension he signed in 2024, which goes through 2030. The Sunday Night Football booth of Collinsworth and Mike Tirico appears to be locked in for years to come.
Networks often shuffle announce teams due to audience reception, performance and all sorts of departures. The looming end of these three’ top commentators deals, however, will add a unique dimension to the story of the 2026 season.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is an Editorial Lead at Awful Announcing overseeing digital content and special projects. He lives in Phoenix and has covered sports media for Awful Announcing since 2023.