Troy Aikman and Joe Buck included a segment during Monday's Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles broadcast to pay tribute to their friend David Moulton, who passed away over the weekend
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Troy Aikman is glum during a segment about the passing of an old friend(Image: X/ESPN)
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ESPN color commentator Troy Aikman shed a few tears during a second-half segment in the Week 7 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
Play-by-play man Joe Buck led a tribute for David Moulton, a former Southwest Florida radio host turned FOX spotter, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 59. Moulton, survived by his wife and family, faced a six-year battle with renal cell cancer.
Aikman, who was seen speaking with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pregame amid rumors of an ESPN departure, followed up on his weekend social media tribute for Moulton with some touching words on Monday.
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“He was a fighter right up until the end,” Aikman said, apologizing for tearing. “He left a hole in a lot of people’s hearts....[He was] just a good man.” Buck agreed. "He is missed up here. Well said,” the play-by-play man added.
Moulton served as a spotter for Buck and Aikman on FOX for NFL Sundays, typically a day after serving the same role for Gary Danielson during CBS SEC college football games.
Moulton's wife, Julie, confirmed her husband's passing over the weekend. "It is with a completely shattered heart broken into a million pieces I share that my loving husband, David, died last night while in hospice care at the Douglas Center for Caring," she wrote online.
"David battled stage four renal cell cancer for six long years. It metastasized to his bones two years ago. He never stopped fighting or trying new treatments."
Aikman posted a photo of himself with Moulton and added a touching tribute.
“Since 2018, David Moulton has been my right-hand man in the broadcast booth,” he put in his post's caption. “What started as a professional relationship became a friendship I have cherished. David was loyal, dependable, and a warrior until the very end. He deserved better.
"My heart breaks for his family and all who loved him. I’m grateful for the years we shared and will miss him deeply. Rest in peace, big guy.”
Aikman's old team, the Cowboys, handled some first-half adversity to make light work of the depleted Eagles, 38-21, improving to 3-4 to stop a two-game slide.
Running back Javonte Williams toasted a supposedly strong Philadelphia defense to the tune of 155 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, including a 34-yard run. Dallas is now second in the weak NFC East.