Football fans are praising ESPN ‘Monday Night Football’ analyst and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman over his interesting comments about the NFL and gambling.
As everyone who follows football closely knows, there is no shortage of frustrated and disgruntled fans who claim the NFL is “rigged” or “scripted” in some aspect. Such accusations have skyrocketed during the 2024 season, due largely to the Kansas City Chiefs constantly being the beneficiary of controversial calls.
Troy Aikman wasn’t afraid to voice his frustrations with the officiating, either, especially during the Chiefs-Houston Texans Divisional Round game.
Aikman has again turned heads following some interesting comments he shared on the “SI Media With Jimmy Traina” podcast, regarding the NFL and gambling. Here’s what the Dallas Cowboys legend said:
“I know the officials have a tough job. I mean, the scrutiny that they’re under. As we’ve gotten more advanced with instant replay, those guys, it seems, have become more and more scrutinized. And the game has not become less controversial, the game has become more controversial. I just think that we’re at a point that this has tipped a little bit because the league is partners with a number of these gambling services.
“Here you are promoting gambling, people are gambling more than they ever have before and those types of calls – there’s a lot at stake regardless – but especially when you’re considering there’s a lot of money that’s changing hands with these calls as well, I think that we owe it to the fans that we get it right and I think we’re at a point in time where we can. We can get it more right. So that was really my position in just trying to lean on the NFL and say, ‘Hey, we gotta fix this. We gotta address it in the offseason.’”
Football fans are applauding Troy Aikman for speaking out:
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“Troy’s been on a heater lately,” said one fan.
Troy’s been on a heater lately
— el Jefé (@JefePil) January 30, 2025
“Surprised to see Aikman speaking up. We know what he’s referring to… we all do,” another wrote.
“Troy’s been on a heater lately,” said another.
Wow… literally everyone sees just how biased the league is towards rhe Chiefs. Surprised to see Aikman speaking up. We know what he’s referring to… we all do
— NiFτy (@niftyinvest) January 30, 2025
“Words of wisdom,” said a fan.
Words of wisdom
— Matt Goodman (@chefmattg17) January 30, 2025
“He’s 💯 correct,” remarked another.
He’s 💯 correct
— The Cowboy Regg ✭ (@Irish_Cowboy88) January 30, 2025
“No doubt. Good for him speaking out for the good of the game,” a fan commented.
No doubt. Good for him speaking out for the good of the game
— DR.Respect (@Dr_Respect77) January 30, 2025
“I really respect troy aikman, I love his honesty,” another said.
I really respect troy aikman, I love his honesty
— Mathew V. Liberto (@MoonlightAsada) January 31, 2025
In 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, arguing that it violated the Tenth Amendment. The historic ruling allowed every U.S. state to legalize gambling, and 39 have done so to date.
Sports gambling advertisements and commercials are featured all over the place at events and on television. So Troy Aikman certainly raises some strong points about the NFL and gambling amid the league’s ongoing officiating controversy.
Troy Aikman Wraps Up Third Season At ESPN
Aikman and longtime FOX broadcast partner Joe Buck left to sign lucrative long-term deals with ESPN to take over their ‘MNF’ broadcasts in 2022. The two signed off for the 2024 season after calling the aforementioned Chiefs-Texans Divisional Round game.
The three-time Super Bowl champion signed a five-year deal with the Worldwide Leader in Sports and has just two seasons remaining, so don’t be surprised if an extension is on the way.
