Joe Buck’s Rocky Road to Philadelphia Respect

For decades, Joe Buck has been one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting — and for Philadelphia sports fans, one of the most polarizing. The relationship between Buck and Philly fans has been complicated, tense, and slowly evolving. As Buck prepares to call his latest Super Bowl alongside Troy Aikman, the question remains: do Eagles fans actually like him now?

Why Philadelphia Never Took to Joe Buck

Buck’s troubles in Philadelphia run deep, rooted in both geography and loyalty. Eagles fans have long associated Buck with Troy Aikman, the Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories — Philly’s historic rivals. The connection alone put Buck on the wrong side of Cowboys- Eagles animosity for many fans.

Phillies fans had their own grievances. Generations grew up listening to beloved voices like Harry Kalas and Tom McCarthy, announcers who wore their fandom on their sleeves. Buck’s more neutral, straightforward style felt cold by comparison.

“Philly fans are at times hard to please, and that’s what makes them great. They demand effort and excellence.” — Joe Buck

The divide was never more visible than in 2008, when Buck called the Phillies’ World Series victory on Fox while Kalas handled the radio call. Kalas’ legendary call of Brad Lidge’s final strikeout — “Swing and a miss! Struck him ooooooooout! The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 world champions of basebaaaaaaaall!” — stood in stark contrast to Buck’s dry: “Phillies are world champions.”

A Slow Thaw in Philadelphia

Buck has noticed a marked shift in recent years. The venom that once greeted his broadcasts has faded considerably, especially compared to 2015, when he quit Twitter for over a year following brutal criticism during a Phillies-Red Sox game.

Even Kylie Kelce acknowledged the family’s past antipathy last year on her husband Jason’s ESPN show. “I was raised in a house where I was taught to dislike Joe Buck. It seemed as though he was always cheering for the other team,” she said.

The turning point, Buck suggests, comes down to simple geography and relevance. “Everyone is listening to every tone that comes out of your mouth and assigning some rooting interest that just doesn’t exist,” he explained. “There would just be no reason why I would root against Philly. It’s just silly stuff.”

The fact that Buck no longer calls national baseball games regularly has likely helped too. When he’s not constantly in Philly’s backyard during baseball season, the pressure eases.

A Broadcast Duo That Earned Its Repute

Today, Buck and Aikman are widely regarded as one of the best broadcasting duos in the NFL. Their chemistry, honed over two decades, brings a relaxed authority to Monday Night Football, now in Buck’s fifth ESPN season. This year, the pair will call the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium — their first together since leaving Fox after the 2020 season.

Buck signed a contract extension reportedly worth over $100 million, keeping him at ESPN through the 2032 season. But the duo’s future together isn’t entirely settled — Aikman hasn’t signed his own extension and reportedly won’t until after the Super Bowl.

One Man in the Booth Who Loves Philly

Buck has a secret weapon in the booth: statistician Ed Sfida, a Villanova graduate who has worked with Buck and Aikman since 2003. The three have become so close that Buck invited Sfida to his wedding to Michelle Beisner, who now works alongside her husband at ESPN.

“Back at Fox, if the Eagles were playing the same time we were doing another game and scored a touchdown, we’d look down in the corner of the booth where Sfida stands and he’s doing the Eagles’ wing flapping thing,” Buck recalled with a smile. “He’s the best.”

Can Buck Match Merrill Reese’s Legacy?

Buck is in his 33rd year calling NFL games, dating back to 1994 when Fox acquired league rights. Impressive as that is, it pales next to Eagles radio voice Merrill Reese, now in his 50th season calling the Birds — easily the most-tenured announcer in professional football.

If Buck were to reach 50 years, he’d be 74. He’s not counting on it. “The answer to your question is no,” Buck said. “It’s just amazing to me, whether it’s Merrill or Al Michaels, the mental clarity and strength it takes to find your way through these games and not say something ridiculously stupid.”

That said, even veterans aren’t flawless. Just last week, Reese mistakenly thought a Tennessee Titans interception of Jalen Hurts had been returned for a touchdown before recovering with a vintage call of Hurts’ late-game comeback. Buck remains a vocal admirer: “I’m just blown away by Merrill and how smart and clear and energetic he is.”

What Comes After the Super Bowl?

The post-Super Bowl landscape raises questions. Aikman hasn’t committed to staying with ESPN beyond this season, and with Tony Romo facing arrest and suspension from CBS in late December 2024, CBS’s top booth faces upheaval. Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football team of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit also have contracts expiring after this season.

“I’ve been in this business long enough to know nothing is a guarantee,” Buck said. “So my only answer to any of that is we’ll see.”

For now, Buck’s focus is on the game in front of him — and on a city that, however slowly, appears to be warming to his voice. Whether that goodwill holds through another Super Bowl loss or a controversial call remains to be seen. But in Philadelphia, nothing is ever settled forever.

Key Moments in the Buck–Philly Relationship

Sports, NFL, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN, Super Bowl, Broadcasting, Sports Media, Merrill Reese, Tony Romo, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Sports, Monday Night Football