For the first time in their two-plus decades in the booth, former FOX broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be the voices of Monday Night Football this season.
With ESPN carrying the Bears and Seahawks (-3.5) preseason matchup on Thursday night, NFL fans thought that Buck and Aikman would be making their respective debuts in the legendary primetime football booth. They were wrong.
Seeing as how Buck and Aikman are making a huge transition, they will actually not be calling a game on ESPN until Week 1 of the 2022 season. In place of them, it’s part of last year’s crew of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Laura Rutledge.
Though, per Buck himself, he and Aikman are in Seattle … just for a rehearsal:
And so it begins!!! Can’t wait to get to work. This is the first of 20 of these. See you in Seattle @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/Evjxv2c8cL
— Joe Buck (@Buck) August 16, 2022
BTW The trip to Sea is for a practice game. @TroyAikman and I are still working on properly pronouncing ESPN. Our crew of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Laura Rutledge will be taking you through that one. See u on 9/12. It’s a MONDAY! @DangeRussWilson is back in ORANGE this time.
— Joe Buck (@Buck) August 16, 2022
Now see, that is understandably very confusing! At least we know that Buck and Aikman are working on bringing their A-game once the regular season comes around.
NFL fans were confused to learn that Buck and Aikman weren't calling Bears-Seahawks
I thought Troy Aikman and Joe Buck were calling this Bears Seahawks game tonight?
— Steve Monday (@WXsnm) August 19, 2022
So do Joe Buck and Troy Aikman not get preseason MNF reps?
— Michael Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) August 19, 2022
Not getting Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for a “Monday Night Football” broadcast is a troll
— adam (@_adamhess) August 19, 2022
I wonder when we will hear Joe Buck & Troy Aikman on MNF. These ones are awesome too though! 😊
— Nikola (@nikolafanofTV) August 19, 2022
Does Anyone know why Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are NOT calling tonight's preseason game???
— D.C. (@barbarowps) August 19, 2022
Hmmm…Joe Buck sounds exactly like Steve Levy and Troy Aikman sounds exactly like Brian Griese..guess no preseason tune up for the new @NFL_MNF duo @espn @NFL
— Maggie5 (@MaggieNaper5) August 19, 2022
I'm stunned Buck and Aikman are missing this game.
— Steve Francisco (@SoFullOfWit) August 19, 2022
Thought they were gonna give Buck & Aikman a go on ESPN tonight lol
— Josh (@callmeWise) August 19, 2022
ESPN saving Buck/Aikman for week one, eh?
— Richie Flores (@RFlores91) August 19, 2022
Buck and Aikman must be thrilled they didn't have to be at this game in Seattle tonight.
— Brendan Stiles (@thebstiles) August 19, 2022
