In the “Mega Money Quiz” sketch on Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave, Andy Samberg competes for big money on a generic TV gameshow while host Tim Robinson attempts to keep things moving despite awkward and destructive interruptions by show mascot Chunky.
The problem is that Chunky hasn’t figured out what, exactly, it’s supposed to be doing when it appears, prompting Robinson to fly into a fit of rage (natch) as he berates the mascot to “figure out what you do!”
In many ways, Chunky perfectly embodies a former NFL player transitioning into the role of a color commentator.
A big galoot lumbering around, bumping into things, mishandling equipment, and not understanding where it should and shouldn’t be is often what it feels like when you see a quarterback attempt to make sense of calling the action from the booth instead of on the field below.
Some former players adjust quicker than others. Greg Olsen has quickly become the gold standard for NFL game analysts while Tony Romo used his Nostradamus-like instincts to make his mark fast. Drew Brees, on the other hand, crashed and burned in his first (and only) season in the booth.
Often, it takes a few years before the transition from player to broadcaster really takes shape. And even then, it becomes less critical for someone to figure out how to call a game and more important that, like Chunky, they figure out what it is they do.
Tom Brady is a prime example. Somewhat hampered by the constraints of team ownership and a lifetime of being “the hot person in the room” has made it hard for the legendary quarterback to offer a distinct personality or unique viewpoint of the game he was calling. He might get there one day (if he actually sticks around) but it’s probably going to take a few years before he sands off some of the veneer to expose the human being underneath.
Perhaps Brady is a lot like Troy Aikman in that way. Brady’s seven Super Bowl wins have reshaped the way we think about NFL quarterback greatness, but Aikman was no slouch, winning three championships with the Dallas Cowboys before moving into the booth. Over the years, he’s never been flashy and certainly never been showy, but the former signal-caller has long been admired for his ability to break down the game he’s calling.
In the ice cream shop of NFL color commentators, Aikman has cemented himself as vanilla for over 20 years. Vanilla’s boring, but it’s also consistent and very popular.
If Aikman would have stayed vanilla for the next 10-15 years, no one would have blamed him. However, as he’s gotten older and settled into his broadcasting career, the 58-year-old has added some caramel swirls and toffee crunch to his flavor profile. He’s loosened the tie a little bit and, perhaps most importantly, stopped caring quite as much. And it’s really helping the Monday Night Football analyst find his final and truest form, one that’s refreshingly connecting with NFL audiences.
Perhaps it’s simply what happens when you have 20+ years of experience on the call. Perhaps the elder statesman has come to realize that he’s relatively untouchable and doesn’t have to hold his tongue. Perhaps he’s seen the ways Pat McAfee, Jason Kelce, and Stephen A Smith. speak freely and wanted a piece of that. He’s not a hot-take machine. He doesn’t force it. He’s simply… honest. There’s something incredibly refreshing about it, especially when he’s calling out things that aren’t working. It’s why Mina Kimes called him the best “watching a bad offense” announcer. And she’s not alone.
“Aikman is really pulling no punches these days,” said Craig Horlbeck on a recent episode of The Ringer Fantasy Football Show. “I love it.”
“Aikman has somehow perfected the sitting in a bar with the guy who’s played before, but no one else is around, so he’s telling you the truth about how things are,” added co-host Danny Kelly.
“Troy Aikman nails what so many broadcasters are afraid to do, which is he just shows contempt,” said co-host Danny Heifetz.
@ringerfantasyfootball troy Aikman rips #nfl #espn #troyaikman #samdarnold #vikings #fyp #foryou
There isn’t a moment or singular game one can point to and say that’s where everything clicked for Aikman. However, much like longtime broadcasting partner Joe Buck, it’s hard to deny that he’s loosened up in recent years, making his commentary more honest and entertaining.
This season has been chocked full of delightful Aikman “give-no-f*ck” moments. He kicked off the year by calling out how bad the quarterback play was. He refused to apologize for praising Patrick Mahomes. He and Buck trolled the Giants over their poor offseason decisions. They also teamed up to criticize their ESPN college football counterparts. He even took a jab at the NBA. He blasted the “ugly” Steelers offense and correctly said they’d be “one and done” in the playoffs. He shared his genuine bafflement at what the Vikings did in their playoff loss last weekend and had no problem calling attention to Sam Darnold’s dreadful performance.
Troy Aikman bashed Sam Darnold for missing an open screen pass, “it can’t get any easier than that…” And Justin Jefferson gave him that look 😬😳 pic.twitter.com/GaHHGfNNH2
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) January 14, 2025
Aikman has clearly had a bone to pick with Jerry Jones and the Cowboys during their disappointing 2024 season as well. He ripped their “lazy” receivers for running “terrible routes.” He shaded the franchise for not signing Derrick Henry. He had a good laugh about Jerry Jones’ sun-in-the-stadium rant. When the Cowboys and head coach Mike McCarthy split, Aikman dropped his biggest hammer of the year, saying the Cowboys don’t seem to have a plan and that the head coaching position wasn’t “coveted.”
Troy Aikman on the Dallas Cowboys: “I thought Mike McCarthy would be the head coach, so this is a bit of a surprise for me today… It suggests that there’s not a real plan… To say that it’s a coveted job, I’m not sure I would necessarily agree with that.” 🏈🔥🎙️#NFL pic.twitter.com/M6cmb1dOaO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2025
None of it rose to the level of a Chris Russo rant, but that’s not what you want Aikman doing anyway. That would be disingenuous to who he is. Like Kelly said, he’s the wise veteran talking shop with you when no one else is around, and it’s exactly how a lot of people want to consume their football.
In September, Aikman said he’s enjoying himself now as much as he’s ever enjoyed his broadcasting career. “I don’t know when I might want to be done with it,” he told Richard Deitsch, “but I hope it’s not any time soon.”
We hope so too, cause it sounds like Troy is finally getting settled in.