in a interview with Clarence E. Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports, Aikman made it clear that he is now going all-in on the Dolphins. However, it’s still unclear what Aikman will do.
Advertisement
Aikman explained that the Dolphins approached him to help with the General Manager search. Then, they asked him to help find a new head coach. Now it will stay.
“I will continue to help in ways that are yet to be defined,” Aikman said.
While Aikman’s specific role is to be determined, the idea is that Aikman can help in the effort. The same way Tom Brady is helping the Raiders.
“I think every franchise quarterback that’s been in the league for a while,” Aikman said, “I think we all came out of the game thinking we can run a team and know what it takes, and certainly having been a part of some championship teams, and I know what the locker room feels like and what a winning locker room should be like.
Advertisement
“And I really thought I would go in that direction when I got out of football, but because of things in my personal life, that kept me from being able to spend time that way. But deep down, I was hoping it would happen, and then, you know, I was so far away at this particular time, that I didn’t think it would ever happen. But that’s kind of scratched that itch, but, you know, I don’t have any ownership. I don’t have the clout, so to speak, that Tom apparently has there with the Raiders, so it seems similar, but I’m not so sure it is.”
It’s similar in one important way that the league and television networks continue to overlook. While calling games for all 32 teams, Aikman now has a clear interest in the success of one of them. And he apparently plans to take what he learns in his main job to help the second’s performance.
“I think the Dolphins were wise to understand my relationships in the league,” Aikman said. “And knowing that I have information that they don’t have or can’t get. And I think they were smart to take advantage of that, whether through me or someone else. The Cowboys have never chosen to do that, at least with me. You know, maybe they have done it with others. But, no, I don’t feel like there’s a conflict (with the Cowboys). But I will say that I’m rooting for the Dolphins… because now I have something at stake, and I think they hired two really talented, wonderful people, and I think that will show. But yes, I support them because I feel like my fingerprints are on it too.
While there may not be a direct conflict with the Cowboys until they play the Dolphins, the conflict of interest between Aikman’s main job and his side job is clear. And it will become an issue the moment Aikman shows up to visit another team’s facility and/or attend another team’s practice, especially if that team is on Miami’s 2026 schedule.
Advertisement
Regarding Aikman’s dual role, the league has said it will address the situation.”at the appropriate time” Meanwhile, Aikman will be in the draft room with the Dolphins, further cementing the fact that he is on the roster and working to advance the team’s interests.
Having a part of the capital does not matter. Aikman is on the payroll. He wants the Dolphins to win. They have hired him, as Aikman said, because he has “information that they don’t have or can’t get.”
Their two works have clearly conflicting interests. An employer will expect him to gather information that will help him do that job to the best of his ability. The other employer will expect that information collected in the first job will be shared for strategic purposes in the second job.
Aikman is right about one thing: If the league is going to allow teams to hire broadcasters to channel “information they don’t have or can’t get,” each team should be smart enough to do it.
Advertisement
It all goes back to Brady’s dual role. The moment the league shrugged at Brady working as Fox’s No. 1 analyst and owning a piece of the Raiders, a bridge was crossed. Aikman is simply the second man to cross that bridge. Unless the league burns that bridge, any team that doesn’t do the same will be at a competitive disadvantage.