Joe Buck Lands a $108 Million ESPN Extension with Possible MLB Twist

Joe Buck has agreed to a contract extension with ESPN covering six years and worth roughly $108 million. The agreement keeps the “Monday Night Football” play-by-play announcer with the network while significantly increasing his annual salary.

The new contract raises Buck’s yearly pay from $15 million to $18 million. It represents an increase from his current deal covering five years and worth $75 million, which expires at the end of this NFL season.

Buck, 57, is in his fifth season with ESPN. He joined the company in March 2022 after leaving Fox, where his work included calling NFL and baseball games.

His move to ESPN kept him alongside “MNF” analyst Tory Aikman, who also left Fox. Buck and Aikman had worked in the same booth at Fox since 2002 before making the move together.

Gold. Upgraded. Buy real gold from $1. Store it in America. Sell it with one click.

Their 25 years as a broadcasting pair is the most in broadcasting history. That partnership is also approaching another prominent assignment for the networks owned by Disney.

Buck and Aikman will call their first Super Bowl for those networks this February. They called six Super Bowls together during their prior relationship with Fox.  The extension also sets Buck up to return to the microphone when ESPN and ABC own the rights to the Big Game again in 2031.

Whether Aikman will remain alongside Buck for the 2031 game is uncertain. His contract with ESPN, which covers five years and is worth $90 million, expires after this season, and he does not have a new agreement.

Buck’s extension also creates the possibility that he could begin calling baseball games again. He previously served as a lead baseball announcer for Fox while also handling his NFL responsibilities for the network.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Since joining ESPN, Buck has focused on football apart from a couple of isolated baseball assignments. The possibility of a larger baseball role is tied to ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro’s reported interest in acquiring future World Series rights.

Fox owns the rights to the World Series through 2028. According to reports, Pitaro is interested in taking those rights for ESPN beginning with the 2029 Fall Classic.

Pitaro reportedly has told Buck that he would like the announcer behind the microphone for the World Series if ESPN secures the rights. However, Buck’s upcoming contract does not contain a clause covering that possibility.

That leaves any World Series role dependent on ESPN obtaining the rights and then putting Buck on the broadcast. The report presents the baseball assignment as a possibility rather than a guaranteed part of the extension.

Buck’s raise to roughly $18 million per year keeps him among the personalities with the highest pay at ESPN. His annual salary, however, remains below the amount Stephen A. Smith receives from the network.

Smith earns $21 million per year. Pat McAfee is also talking with ESPN about a large contract extension that could pay him roughly $65 million annually.

For now, Buck’s confirmed responsibilities remain centered on “Monday Night Football,” with the Super Bowl assignment scheduled for this February. His new agreement covers six years, while the possible return to regular baseball broadcasting carries no contractual guarantee.

Gold is the oldest answer. SoundMoney makes owning it as easy as the apps you already use.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.