Troy Aikman made his relationship with his partner – who is two decades his junior – official on social media, sharing a series of photos to mark her birthday.

Aikman, the 59-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, has been a prominent face of NFL coverage on ESPN, partnering with renowned announcer Joe Buck on Monday Night Football. Despite his status as a public figure, his personal life has remained largely private – until now.

The football legend has unveiled his new partner on Instagram while awaiting word on whether ESPN will renew his contract, which expires at the end of the 2026 NFL season in February. Aikman posted a three-photo carousel on Instagram featuring his partner, Marisa Howard, with the caption “Happy Birthday Beautiful.” It’s unclear whether it’s Howard’s 39th or 40th birthday, with conflicting reports. He also shared a photo of the couple enjoying a dinner date, captioned “Best night.” It comes after Aikman left MNF viewers furious with an ugly mistake.

Aikman’s across social media were quick to share their well-wishes as the couple celebrated Howard’s special day.

Prior to his relationship with Howard, Aikman was married twice – first to Rhonda Worthey and then to Catherine Mooty. He was married to Worthey from 2000 to 2011 and to Mooty from 2017 to 2023, and also had a brief relationship with Haley Clark, though the pair were last spotted together in 2023.

Aikman’s public declaration of his relationship with Howard comes as he awaits a new deal with the network. The 59-year-old is currently in the final year of a five-year, $90 million contract, set to expire following Super Bowl LXI in February 2027.

“I thought something would be done prior to the start of this season,” Aikman disclosed during an appearance on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast.

“I’ve never gone into a last year of a contract ever since I signed with the Dallas Cowboys. So, I thought that it would be done. It’s not. When it might get done, if it gets done, is anybody’s guess, and it’s just not something that I’m really putting a lot of energy into.”

Additionally, Buck, Aikman’s longtime partner in the booth, expressed his desire to see him remain at ESPN, considering their close bond at this stage of their careers. “I’m pretty well on record, having begged out of my last years at Fox to follow him to ESPN, where I stand on all that,” Buck said during an appearance on Philadelphia’s 97.5 The Fanatic.

“I legitimately love the guy like a brother. We’re basically the same age; I’m 57, he’s 59. We’ve both been through divorce. We’re both girl dads. 25 years, you’re sharing a lot of life together. Forget games and in the booth and all that stuff.

“So, I hope so. I mean, both of us were up. It wasn’t like we were doing some national signing day where we walk in arm-in-arm and then sign contracts at the same time. We’ve always kind of kept that stuff separate. I’m obviously hopeful, to say the least, that something gets done. But that’s kind of his world, and ESPN’s world, and I’ve got to kind of mind my own yard in that stuff. I think that’s the best way to be.”