ESPN's Joe Buck swapped his broadcast headset for a seat at the judges' table on Tuesday, October 13, guest judging ABC's Dancing with the Stars during the show's first-ever “Super Bowl Night” episode. The appearance came just two days after Buck was in the Monday Night Football booth at SoFi Stadium calling a contentious Bills-Rams game, giving the veteran announcer one of the more unusual split weeks of his long career.

From the Booth to the Ballroom

Joe Buck is going from the broadcast booth to the ballroom, bringing his football expertise to the show as a guest judge. He joined Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli at the judges' table for the special episode.

The episode marked the show's first-ever “Super Bowl Night,” in which the 11 remaining couples performed routines set to songs from past Super Bowl halftime shows. Music from stars such as Shakira, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar was expected to be featured throughout the evening.

A Rough Night at SoFi Stadium

The TV crossover followed a bumpy night on the football side of Buck's job. Buck and Aikman called out the officiating in the second half of Monday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, with the Bills trailing the Rams 14-13 midway through the third quarter at SoFi Stadium.

The flashpoint came after a no-call on a Rams defender against a Bills tight end. Aikman said he could see why the Rams safety was looking at the referee, and rules analyst Russell Yurk agreed it was clearly a foul. Buck called it “a massive miss,” while Yurk added that it should have been defensive pass interference worth significant yardage. Aikman backed up his partner, telling him, “You said it, Joe. A huge non-call.” Buffalo ultimately pulled out the result, a game recapped in detail in SportVoz's coverage of the overtime finish.

Who Is Joe Buck?

A Broadcasting Bloodline

Buck, who is the son of legendary sportscaster Jack Buck, became a household name for NFL fans when he made his debut during the 1994-95 season, calling a full slate of games for FOX Sports. He is currently in his 29th season calling NFL games. In 2022, he was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Buck's résumé extends well beyond the gridiron. His career also includes calling 24 World Series, 22 MLB All-Star games and five of golf's U.S. Opens, along with hosting his own shows. He and Aikman eventually jumped together to ESPN in 2022 to call Monday Night Football after two decades as FOX's top NFL announcing team.

A Record Payday

Buck has signed a six-year, $108 million contract extension with ESPN, according to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, to remain the voice of Monday Night Football. The new deal raises his salary from $15 million to $18 million per year. Buck will be the play-by-play voice for ESPN's first Super Bowl broadcast this February and is also set to call the network's next Super Bowl in 2031.

What Comes Next for the Booth

The contract timing has fueled questions about Buck's longtime partner. Troy Aikman is currently in the final year of a five-year, $90 million contract with ESPN that expires after the Super Bowl. As of now, both Aikman and Buck remain in the Monday Night Football booth for the rest of the 2026 season.

Speculation about the booth's future has swirled around other ESPN personalities, though not everyone is buying it. Pat McAfee quickly shut down the notion that he could be joining the Monday Night Football booth. Whatever shakes out, Buck's schedule for now points squarely toward the Super Bowl, with stops at the NFL booth, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams matchups, and, for one night at least, a ballroom dance floor.