Jerry Jones isn’t playing coy about Troy Aikman.
With Aikman’s ESPN deal nearing its end after this season and no clear sign of a new contract coming, the Hall of Fame quarterback is suddenly at the center of a familiar question: could his next move be with the Dallas Cowboys? Jones made his stance plain when asked Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan.
"Yes, I could and would," he said (H/T Patrik Walker). "It’s that simple because I do think that much of him and his command of NFL knowledge and football. He is qualified to do anything.
That answer keeps alive an idea that has hovered around the Cowboys before. Aikman has limited front office experience, with his only real taste of that world coming in Miami, where he served as a consultant during the Dolphins’ general manager search. Still, Jones clearly values what Aikman brings to the table, and the timing of Monday night’s sideline conversation between the two only fueled the speculation.
Aikman and Jones were seen talking on the field for about 10 minutes before Dallas faced the Philadelphia Eagles, and the internet quickly ran with the possibility that the meeting had something to do with a front office job. There’s no way to know what was actually discussed, but the buzz followed almost immediately.
Aikman has already made his own feelings on the matter known. Speaking to Mike Fisher, he said he’d be willing to at least hear Jerry out if the Cowboys ever came calling.
"I would welcome any conversation with Jerry, and quite honestly I don't know if there ever would be an opportunity," Aikman said to Mike Fisher.
"But if Jerry came to me and felt in his heart that I could lend some services that would help make them better, I'd have a hard time not taking a good look at that," Aikman added.
The key question is what kind of role Aikman would actually want. A small advisory spot?
That seems workable. A seat with real authority and meaningful decision-making power?
That’s where things get complicated. Jerry Jones is not about to hand over control, and Aikman would know that as well as anyone.
Meanwhile, Aikman’s broadcasting future looks shaky. Jones aside, it appears ESPN has no interest in extending his contract, which would leave him in free agency as a broadcaster after this season. And Aikman himself has acknowledged what that uncertainty feels like.
"As I'm into my last year at ESPN, I'm realizing that this is something that could very well be taken away from me," Aikman said to Fisher. "For the first time, I'm realizing how much I really do - I've always enjoyed it.
I've always known that. But until you risk having something taken away from you, I think sometimes you tend to maybe take things for granted."
That uncertainty has also reportedly spilled into his working relationship with Joe Buck, with the pair said to have had a heated exchange before the Monday Night Football game on Oct. 12.
“It nearly got physical off air,” a source told In Touch Weekly. “They were very close from coming to blows.”
Whether Aikman gets another broadcasting job remains to be seen. If that door closes, an NFL front office role could be next - with Dallas lingering as the most obvious possibility, even if it would have to be on Jerry’s terms.
In Other News...
Marcel Reed Puts Texas A&Ms Next QB Decision In Focus
Marcel Reeds future has become one of the more important questions hanging over Texas A&M as the program looks ahead to the 2027 season. The redshirt junior still has one year of eligibility left, and after his recent performance, the Aggies are left weighing what his return would mean for the quarterback room and for the offense overall.
Nothing official has been announced, which keeps the situation open for now, but it also puts Texas A&Ms next move in sharper focus. If Reed does not come back, the Aggies could be forced to explore the transfer portal for help at quarterback, a decision that would shape the depth chart and the direction of the offense in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces One Recruiting Test Fans Can't Ignore
Texas A&Ms season has not made life easy on the recruiting trail, but Mike Elko and his staff are still trying to sell the bigger picture. The Aggies have spent much of the fall reinforcing the idea that their 2027 class is about more than short-term results, and that message appears to be resonating with four-star safety JayQuan Snell, who recently reaffirmed his commitment.
Elko has also made it clear the program is moving forward with Marcel Reed still entrenched as the starter, a decision that helps stabilize the conversation around what Texas A&M is building on offense. For a staff trying to hold together a promising class through a difficult stretch, the test is less about one player or one game than whether recruits continue to buy into the relationships and the long-range vision the Aggies are selling. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Secondary May Not Be The Real Defensive Problem
Texas A&Ms defense has spent much of the season under a microscope, and the pass rush has been the most obvious culprit. The Aggies have only seven sacks after posting a far more disruptive profile a year ago, and that drop has left the rest of the unit working from behind. The secondary, which coach Mike Elko praised before the season, has not exactly escaped blame either after allowing too many explosive plays in the early losses.
Even so, the numbers suggest the back end may not be the main issue. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in catch rate allowed percentage, a sign that the coverage has been steadier than the biggest breakdowns suggest. Dezz Ricks has also put together a notable season and helped his NFL Draft case, but the larger concern remains whether the defense can generate enough pressure up front to make everything else look cleaner. [Read more 🡒]