Pat McAfee revealed that he has been unable to land Troy Aikman as a guest on his ESPN program, raising questions about their dynamic despite being colleagues at the same network.
Speaking during a live taping of The Pat McAfee Show at the NFL’s annual league meetings in Phoenix, McAfee addressed the situation candidly when asked about Aikman, admitting uncertainty about where they stand.
“I don’t know how we are with Troy, I’ll be honest,” McAfee said. “I like him. I was with Joe Buck for a long time… Troy never comes on our show.” McAfee explained that his team has made repeated efforts to book Aikman, who serves as a lead analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, but those attempts have yet to result in a recent appearance.
He pointed to a specific example involving Rich Eisen, noting that Aikman appeared on Eisen’s show shortly after it joined ESPN’s lineup. “Then Rich Eisen’s first day on ESPN at noon, he’s on the show,” McAfee said.
“Troy always tells us, ‘Can’t do it noon. Sorry, it’s impossible.’ First day Rich (Eisen) is on, Troy’s like, ‘Get me on that phone.’” Despite the contrast, McAfee made it clear he isn’t taking the situation personally.
He added that their relationship remains distant beyond sharing the same network. “I won’t take it as personal heat. But I do not know, and we don’t know Troy like that.”
Pat McAfee Hints at Difficulties in Landing ESPN's Troy Aikman as a Guest on His Program https://t.co/1Weo8XHEVb
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) March 31, 2026
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For the unversed, Troy Aikman joined ESPN in 2022 alongside his longtime broadcast partner Joe Buck after spending nearly two decades at Fox Sports. The duo has since remained a cornerstone of ESPN’s NFL coverage and is set to call the Super Bowl in 2027 when the network airs the marquee event.
Troy Aikman’s Selective Appearances And Scheduling Conflicts Come Under Spotlight
Troy Aikman’s absence from Pat McAfee’s show contrasts with his willingness to appear on other ESPN programming, including The Rich Eisen Show, which airs in a similar midday time slot.
McAfee noted that Aikman has previously cited scheduling constraints for declining invitations, particularly around the noon broadcast window. However, Aikman’s appearance on Eisen’s show during its ESPN debut suggests those limitations may not apply uniformly across programs.
The Rich Eisen Show and The Pat McAfee Show have overlapping airtimes on ESPN, with McAfee’s program running from noon to 2 p.m. ET and Eisen’s extending from noon to 3 p.m. ET. The overlap has placed the two shows in direct competition within the network’s daytime lineup.
McAfee acknowledged the discrepancy but did not suggest any confirmed dispute, instead reiterating uncertainty about the situation. No public statement from Aikman has addressed his absence from McAfee’s show, and there is no confirmed feud between the two ESPN personalities.
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The situation remains unresolved, with McAfee continuing his daily broadcasts while Aikman focuses on his primary role as a lead NFL analyst for ESPN.
