It looks like ESPN might be gearing up for a fresh look on Monday Night Football in 2026 - and fans caught an early glimpse of what could be a new scorebug during the Divisional Round weekend.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman just wrapped up their fourth season in the MNF booth, finishing the year with the Texans-Patriots Divisional Round matchup at Gillette Stadium. But before kickoff, eagle-eyed viewers noticed something different: ESPN appeared to be testing a new on-screen scoreboard graphic - commonly referred to as a "scorebug."
The test graphic didn’t feature the actual teams playing in that game. Instead, it showed the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs - a clear sign this wasn’t a live update, but more likely a behind-the-scenes trial run. Whether this updated scorebug makes its official debut next season remains to be seen, but its appearance suggests ESPN is at least exploring a visual refresh for its flagship NFL broadcast.
This wouldn’t be the first network to tweak its look during a high-stakes stretch of the season. NBC, for example, rolled out a revamped scorebug for the start of the postseason - a move that aligns with their upcoming broadcast of Super Bowl 60 on February 8.
As for Buck and Aikman, their presence in the booth remains a cornerstone of ESPN’s NFL coverage. Aikman is under contract through 2026 on a five-year, $90 million deal, according to reports. The duo spent two decades together at Fox Sports before making the jump to ESPN in 2022, and their chemistry continues to be one of the more consistent elements in primetime football coverage.
Over at Fox, Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady have taken over as the network’s top team. They’re set to call the NFC Championship Game next week - a high-profile assignment that signals Brady’s rapid rise in the broadcasting world.
Looking ahead, ESPN is on deck to broadcast Super Bowl 61 next year. If all goes according to plan, Buck and Aikman will be on the call for that game, potentially closing out their current contracts with a Super Bowl assignment - a fitting stage for one of the most enduring broadcasting duos in modern NFL history.
For now, though, all eyes are on what ESPN does next. Whether it’s a new scorebug or a broader production overhaul, the network seems to be setting the table for a refreshed MNF experience in 2026.