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Troy Aikman and Joe Buck’s 24-year partnership has made them the longest-tenured broadcast duo in NFL history.
DALLAS — For nearly a quarter century, the voices of Troy Aikman and Joe Buck have been the soundtrack of NFL Sundays — and now Monday nights.
Their 24-year run in the booth makes them the longest-tenured broadcast pairing in league history, a record built on professional respect, shared life experiences and a genuine friendship that extends far beyond football.
Buck knew early why Aikman was special.
“I knew within two weeks of doing a game a week with him why he won three Super Bowls,” he said.
The admiration was mutual. Aikman still remembers the intimidation of working with a partner already considered the best in the business.
“Joe had skins on the wall. He had won awards. He was the best in the business,” Aikman said. “So there is a bit of an intimidation factor that comes with that, for sure.”
That initial tension quickly gave way to connection. Both men were navigating life as fathers with daughters — the “girl dad” bond becoming the foundation of a deeper friendship.
“In addition to being girl dads, his two daughters are a little bit older than mine,” Aikman said. “But I watched his grow up. He literally watched mine grow. Mine were born while we were working together.”
Buck nodded to the authenticity of the relationship. “It seems corny, but it’s legit,” he said. “My girls think of him as Uncle Troy. Now my boys call him Uncle Troy. That stuff makes an impression and certainly means the world to me.”
That connection shows up on the air. Their chemistry makes each broadcast feel less like a formal telecast and more like eavesdropping on two close friends who happen to know football inside and out.
“I think that translates over the airwaves,” Aikman said. “When people hear us do a broadcast, they say, ‘It sounds like you two are really good friends.’ And we are. You can’t fake that.”
Buck likens their partnership to a marriage. “You have to put time and effort in, and you have to let the other person know you’ve got their back,” he said. “You have to reach out when they need somebody to reach out to them.”
For Aikman, the surprises came in the form of friendship and mentorship.
“I didn’t know what a great friend he was going to become,” he said. “And I didn’t know what a role model he would be as a father to me.”
The two have lived much of their adult lives side by side — raising children, celebrating milestones, and even standing with each other at family weddings. Their story is more than just about touchdowns and tackles; it’s about loyalty, trust and time.
“All that stuff goes into what goes on the air on a Monday night,” Buck said.
For millions of fans, the call of Aikman and Buck has become as much a part of the NFL experience as the game itself. And for the men themselves, it’s been the ride of a lifetime — one built on friendship as enduring as their record run.
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