Drew Brees Says He Would Jump at Monday Night Football if Troy Aikman Leaves ESPN

Drew Brees wants the best seat in the house on Monday nights.

Asked by Front Office Sports' Baker Machado on the FOS Today podcast whether he would replace Troy Aikman if Aikman leaves ESPN, the Hall of Fame quarterback laughed and said of course, Front Office Sports reported. Brees called Aikman and play-by-play partner Joe Buck the best in the business, according to Front Office Sports and Newsweek.

"I love broadcasting and I love my team," Brees told Machado.

The interview aired on a FOS Today episode released Wednesday that also dealt with the fallout from the College Football Playoff's expansion to 24 teams. The comments spread quickly. The New York Post reported that Brees has his eyes on the Monday Night Football booth, and the Daily Mail described him as definitely interested in a looming vacancy.

Here is the fact-check: there is no opening yet.

Aikman's contract with ESPN expires after Super Bowl LXI in February, according to Front Office Sports and Newsweek. Front Office Sports put the date at February 14. Newsweek reported that Aikman's departure has not been announced, and that Brees was answering a question about a possible vacancy, not an offer or an agreement. Neither outlet reported any response from ESPN.

Front Office Sports' Michael McCarthy wrote that it is doubtful Aikman returns to ESPN, which is his assessment, not an announcement. Buck, meanwhile, signed a six-year, $108 million extension, according to Front Office Sports.

The booth itself has drawn attention. Front Office Sports described tension between Aikman and Buck, though it noted the two appeared friendlier in a recent broadcast, and Aikman joked on air about Buck's new deal.

Brees, 47, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who led the New Orleans Saints to a win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV and was named the game's most valuable player, according to Front Office Sports and Newsweek.

His broadcasting path has had ups and downs. He worked for NBC in 2021, a first season Front Office Sports described as a flop. He joined Fox full-time in Week 11 of the 2025 season and works on its No. 3 broadcast team with Adam Amin and Kristina Pink, the outlet reported.

Brees is not the only name. Front Office Sports and Newsweek listed Fox's Greg Olsen, former CBS analyst Tony Romo, Travis Kelce and Sean McVay as possibilities. Front Office Sports reported that Romo left CBS on October 2 with four years and $72 million left on his deal. Newsweek stressed that the list reflects speculation, not an ESPN hiring process.

Brees said he would take the job if it opens. It has not opened. Aikman is under contract through the Super Bowl, and ESPN has said nothing publicly about his future, based on the reporting we reviewed.

For ESPN, the decision will be a big one. Monday Night Football is the network's signature weekly NFL broadcast, and whoever sits beside Buck will help shape how millions of fans experience the game for years. What is clear is why a booth like this matters to fans. Monday Night Football is one of the last true national gatherings in American life: families in different time zones watching the same game, arguing over the same calls. The voices in that booth become part of the furniture in millions of living rooms. Brees, with a Super Bowl ring and a reputation for preparation, would bring a familiar and respected voice.

Watch for any announcement from ESPN or Aikman about his plans after the Super Bowl, and for whether Fox moves to keep Brees in its own lineup. Until then, this remains what it is today: a Hall of Famer saying out loud that he would love the job.