Joe Buck signing $108 million ESPN contract extension and it could include an MLB twist

Joe Buck is the NFL’s latest nine-figure star.The “Monday Night Football” play-by-play man agreed to a six-year, roughly $108 million contract extension with ESPN, The Athletic reported Wednesday.This extension bumps his yearly salary from $15 million to $18 million, and represents a raise from his five-year, $75 million deal that expires at the end of this NFL season.Buck, 57, is one of the most prominent broadcast voices in the NFL and this season marks his fifth with ESPN after joining the company in March 2022.He and “MNF” analyst Tory Aikman left Fox, where they had served in the same booth since 2002, and their 25 years together is the most in broadcasting history, per The Athletic.The duo will call their first Super Bowl for the Disney-owned networks this February, and this contract sets Buck up to be behind the mic again when ESPN/ABC own the Big Game rights again in 2031.It’s uncertain if Aikman will still be with ESPN for the 2031 game, though, since his five-year, $90 million contract also expires after this season and he does not have a new deal, per The Athletic.This extension could also allow Buck to potentially start calling baseball games again.Buck had served as a lead baseball announcer for Fox in addition to his NFL duties, but he has focused on pigskin since joining the Worldwide Leader, save for a couple of one-offs.Fox owns World Series rights through 2028 and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro is interested in swiping the rights for the 2029 Fall Classic, according to The Athletic.Pitaro reportedly has told Buck he would like him to be behind the mic for the World Series should ESPN own the rights, although there is no clause in this upcoming contract.Buck’s raise to roughly $18 million still has him among the highest-paid personalities at ESPN, although he lags behind Stephen A.Smith ($21 million per year) and Pat McAfee is talking with the network about a mega extension that could pay him roughly $65 million per year....