There’s never a quiet night when Troy Aikman is on the call.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer found himself trending online after an uncomfortable comment made its way onto live television during the Indianapolis Colts’ home matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
An Unexpected Moment On Live TV
Aikman, who was calling the game alongside longtime broadcast partner Joe Buck, appeared to make an off-the-cuff remark that viewers quickly interpreted as a sexual innuendo. The comment, delivered casually during live play, caught many fans off guard and immediately sparked reaction across social media.
While Aikman quickly moved on with the broadcast, the moment didn’t go unnoticed.
Within minutes, clips began circulating online, with fans debating whether the remark was intentional or simply a poorly worded slip during the fast-paced broadcast.
Social Media Reacts Immediately
As expected, the internet wasted no time weighing in.
Some viewers laughed it off as an awkward but harmless comment from a veteran broadcaster, while others labeled it “cringeworthy,” pointing out how unexpected the moment felt during a nationally televised NFL game.
“Troy Aikman really just said that on live TV,” one fan wrote, while another joked that ESPN’s production team likely wished they had a delay button.
Aikman And Buck Still ESPN’s Go-To Duo
Despite the brief distraction, Aikman and Buck remain ESPN’s premier broadcast team. The duo is calling their penultimate regular-season Monday Night Football game of 2025 and is also slated to handle a Wild Card Round matchup on Monday night, along with one of the four Divisional Round games.
Moments like these, intentional or not, tend to come with the territory of live television — especially with broadcasters who’ve been doing it as long as Aikman.
Just Another MNF Moment
In the end, the game rolled on, the broadcast stayed on track, and the comment became just another viral clip in a season full of them.
But for viewers watching live, it was a reminder that even the most polished NFL broadcasts can still produce a moment that makes everyone at home do a double take.
Last month, CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo made headlines with his uncomfortable innuendo in the Denver Broncos-Kansas City Chiefs game. Tonight, it was Troy Aikman’s turn to deliver an awkward one-liner:
It was obviously not Troy Aikman’s plan to utter a line that could be interpreted as something from an Austin Powers movie. But at least he left a few folks laughing?
In 2022, Aikman and Joe Buck left Fox Sports to take over ESPN’s ‘Monday Night Football’ broadcasts. Aikman’s deal was reportedly worth $90 million over five years, so it’ll be time to extend him before long.
Aikman and Buck will wrap up the 2025 ‘MNF’ regular season lineup next Monday. The pair will call the Atlanta Falcons’ home game against the Los Angeles Rams.
