NFL legend Troy Aikman has hinted when he could retire from his current role - and admitted he fears his chances of becoming a general manager in the league has now passed him by.
Aikman was part of the one of the most successful Dallas Cowboys teams in the franchise’s history, winning three Super Bowls in his 11-year stint with the team from 1989-2000. The former NFL quarterback has formed a career in the media since retiring more than two decades ago.
Aikman had formed a commentary partnership with Joe Buck for Fox Sports before the pair both moved to ESPN in 2022. Aikman signed a five-year deal that is reportedly worth $90 million, and will continue doing so for the foreseeable future.
However, now the former QB has opened up on his long-term future in the sport and possibly retiring from his commentary duties. Speaking this week, the 56-year-old has admitted that calling time on his career in the commentary booth is something that’s been on his mind.
“I probably give it more thought than I should,” said Aikman on 96.7 FM/1310 AM The Ticket, via The Dallas Morning News.
“I always have been [mindful] of our time being limited. So I posed the question to myself a lot that, you know, if you’ve got ‘X’ number of years left, what exactly do you want to do with that time?
“And I go a step further - does that include broadcasting, does that include living in Texas? But yet, I am still broadcasting and I’m still living in Dallas, and I very much love the state of Texas and I love living in Dallas, but I don’t know how much longer I’ll do it.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea. And not to suggest that I’m retiring any time in the near future, but I’ve got an idea as to when I believe that I’ll retire.”
Aikman has previously admitted he had ambitions to become a general manager in the NFL. However, he went on to explain why he thinks it’s no longer possible for him to achieve that goal.
“There’s still a part of me, I think, that down the road - the talk has always come up about whether or not I want to be a general manager,” Aikman added.
“And I think that has passed. But there may come a time that I’d be interested in just helping out with a club, with an organization, and not necessarily in an official capacity. I think that would be enjoyable.”
