Erin Andrews Moved to Tears Over Joe Buck and Troy Aikman Departures, Yet Is 'So Happy For Them'

The past few weeks have brought seismic change in the NFL broadcasting space as both Joe Buck and Troy Aikman have left Fox Sports to become the new faces of Monday Night Football at ESPN. Erin Andrews, who has worked with that duo on Fox's lead announcing team since 2014, is rapidly approaching free agency herself and could stake out a future with a different outlet.

The veteran reporter commented on her colleagues' departures for the first time today on Calm Down with Erin and Charissa, her podcast with Charissa Thompson.

"I don’t hold it against anybody for leaving," she said on the podcast. "Look, I left ESPN after being there for eight years and came to Fox. Like I said at the Pat Summerall Award (dinner), that was one of the best career moves I ever made. A lot of that had to do with, yes my crew, but my relationship with those two. They became my brothers and they became my [real] best friends so I’m sad but I’m so happy for them. "

Andrews made the leap from the Worldwide Leader in 2012. Like many in the public, she was surprised at the speed at which the recent moves occurred.

"This all happened fast," Andrews said. "I wasn’t expecting it. I’ll be completely honest, I don’t think a lot of people were. I am known for being one tough cookie, I can deal with a lot of things, I have dealt with a lot of things, but when I had to speak to both of those guys separately when they both had officially left, oh God, I cried. I don’t think they both expected that from me. I’ll cry right now. I told both of them I came to Fox to work with them. I just thought it would be so cool to do games with them. You (Charissa Thompson) said it perfectly, I know these people sometimes better than my husband." 

Though there are many important decisions for Fox to make, as well as a significant one for her to make herself, Andrews expressed optimism that the network will enter the 2022 with a winning plan.

"With the change that’s happening at Fox, I do have faith in our network. I know they have obviously been an amazing network for so long. It’s just my issue (laughing), I’m the one that needs to let shit go."