Troy Aikman Gets 'Offended' By Reaction To His NFL Announcing

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated Apr 19, 2026 1:28 PM ET

Troy Aikman has become a fan favorite in the NFL announcing world in recent years.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, is known for saying exactly what's on his mind. Aikman has gone viral in the past for his scathing criticism of poor NFL quarterback play, inconsistent officiating and more.

Aikman and his partner, Joe Buck, were No. 2 on Awful Announcing's rankings of the top 2025 NFL announcers.

"Still, Aikman drew individual praise, especially for his sometimes-critical commentary (“Love Troy for his brutal honesty,” ” very open about his views on the game,” and “appreciate their candid comments, even when they can be perceived as risky by the league or overall culture”). And the overall reactions here were quite positive," the rankings stated.

Oct 7, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; NFL hall of fame Troy Aikman prior to a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

But while Aikman will often go viral for his scathing takes, he doesn't really appreciate how they are framed.

Aikman gets 'offended' by the reaction to his criticism

Aikman spoke with Travis and Jason Kelce on "New Heights" this week.

“What I’m most grateful for you saying is that it doesn’t feel like I’m attacking anybody,” Aikman said. “Because there’s times when somebody writes something that I said and then it comes off as I was being critical of the player. And I get offended by that, because the one thing that I’ve always tried to do — I tried to be honest.”

Aikman made it clear that he has a ton of respect for everyone who plays or coaches the game.

“I have so much respect for the players and the coaches that participate in this game,” he continued. “The three of us, we know how hard the game is to play, and I especially know how hard the quarterback position is to play. It doesn’t mean every throw is perfect, doesn’t mean that every time the quarterback plays well. And I will point that out, but I hope I do it in a respectful way, and not in a way that tries to embarrass or be disrespectful to the people that are out there on the field doing it.”

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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