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NFL Monday Night Football Latest News

  • 1970-2025
  • 56 Seasons
  • ABC
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"Are you ready for some football?!" That six-word lyric, as bellowed out each week by country music superstar Hank Williams Jr., preluded each "NFL Monday Night Football" game, the first successful attempt to air a National Football League (NFL) football game in prime-time. Each week, two teams (as chosen months in advance by the NFL) met in what has become a Monday night tradition. Usually, a trio of sports-casters (a play-by-play announcer joined by a color commentator and an analyst) called the action. Half-time interviews with coaches and players, and sideline reports after outstanding plays were also innovations that contributed to the appeal of these games. Many of the games proved to be exciting, though sometimes the games were boring (especially if the teams were a mismatch or not very good, a necessary risk since the games were scheduled months in advance). Often serving as part of the announcing team were former NFL greats including OJ Simpson, Dan Dierdorf, Joe Namath and Lynn Swann.

Legendary Monday Night Football Sportscaster Frank Gifford Dies at 84

He died of natural causes at home in Connecticut.

Sun, Aug 9, 2015
Legendary Monday Night Football Sportscaster Frank Gifford Dies at 84

NFL Preview: Can the Seattle Seahawks Repeat as Super Bowl Champions?

The National Football League's orbit has expanded so astronomically that it will elbow The Big Bang Theory from Thursday to Monday for several weeks this fall. Thursday Night Football premieres Sept. 11 on CBS with its lead broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. The games will be simulcast on the NFL Network, which takes over the Thursday package at midseason with Nantz and Simms still in the booth.

Thu, Sep 4, 2014
NFL Preview: Can the Seattle Seahawks Repeat as Super Bowl Champions?

Ratings: Two and a Half Men Declines

Two and a Half Men started so big that even a fourth consecutive week of decline has still left it with enviable numbers. The Ashton Kutcher-led CBS sitcom at 9/8c entertained 16.20 million fans and scored a 5.9 rating among 18-to-49-year-olds Monday night. Most network shows that night hit season lows up against the major league playoffs on Fox, as well as Monday Night Football -- which scored 16.38 million viewers --and Kim Kardashian's "fairy-tale" wedding, which drew a combined total of 10.5 million Sunday and Monday nights, making it E!'s most-watched event ever.

Tue, Oct 11, 2011
Ratings: Two and a Half Men Declines

Hank Williams Jr. Issues Apology Regarding Obama-Hitler Statement

Hank Williams Jr. has apologized since some thought he compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler on Fox and Friends. Williams — whose trademark "Are you ready for some football?" theme was pulled by ESPN on its latest Monday Night Football telecast — posted a statement on his website titled...

Wed, Oct 5, 2011
Hank Williams Jr. Issues Apology Regarding Obama-Hitler Statement

ESPN Pulls Hank Williams Jr. Intro After He Compared President Obama to Hitler

ESPN is no longer "ready for some football" after Hank Williams Jr. made comments comparing President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler, CNN reports. The country singer, appearing on Fox News' Fox and Friends Monday morning, referred to a June golf game when Obama and House Speaker John Boehner played on the same team as "one of the biggest political mistakes ever." Williams then added "that'd be like...

Tue, Oct 4, 2011
ESPN Pulls Hank Williams Jr. Intro After He Compared President Obama to Hitler

TV Guide Network Counts Down the 100 Moments That Changed TV

TV Guide Network will look at the monumental moments that have affected today's television landscape in a five-part series starting Sunday. Among the biggest: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction," the Van Doren "Quiz Show" scandal, and how reality shows such as Survivor and American Idol launched a new genre. Journalists such as Tom Brokaw discuss the debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, the O.J. Simpson trial and the birth of CNN. Larry King explains how his talk show paved the way for the...

Thu, Sep 29, 2011
TV Guide Network Counts Down the 100 Moments That Changed TV

ESPN, NFL Extend Monday Night Football Pact Through 2021

ESPN has signed an eight-year extension with the National Football League to carry Monday Night Football though 2021. ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the $15 billion agreement Thursday, saying that it includes expanded NFL studio programming, highlight rights for TV and ESPN.com, the Pro Bowl, the NFL Draft, 3-D rights and enhanced international rights. However, the deal still does not include playoff games or Super Bowls for the cable sports network.

Thu, Sep 8, 2011
ESPN, NFL Extend Monday Night Football Pact Through 2021

Marv Albert to Cover NFL for CBS Sports

Longtime sportscaster Marv Albert — best known as the lead announcer on NBC's coverage of the NBA and for his signature calls "Yes!" and "RE-jected!" — is joining CBS Sports to broadcast NFL games, the network announced Monday. "Marv Albert is recognized throughout sports broadcasting as one of its true legends. Very few in the broadcasting industry can claim his combined accomplishments and remarkable longevity," CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said.

Mon, Jun 6, 2011
Marv Albert to Cover NFL for CBS Sports

College Football Championship Sets Cable Ratings Record

A cable record 27.3 million people watched Auburn's last-second victory over Oregon in the college football national championship game on ESPN.

Tue, Jan 11, 2011
College Football Championship Sets Cable Ratings Record

Don Meredith, Original Voice of Monday Night Football, Dies at 72

"Dandy" Don Meredith, who supplied the cornpone counterpoint to Howard Cosell's polysyllabic patter and helped make ABC's Monday Night Football a TV phenomenon in the 1970s, has died. He was 72.

Mon, Dec 6, 2010
Don Meredith, Original Voice of Monday Night Football, Dies at 72

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 22, 2010

Skating with the Stars9:11/8:11c ABC Worried about undergoing withdrawal now that Dancing with the Stars approaches the end of another season? The premiere of this new reality competition should help ease some of that pain. The concept is familiar: Six celebrities are paired up with professional ice skaters, and their fates are determined by a combination of judges' and viewers' votes. Vince Neil, Bethenny Frankel and Sean Young are among the stars who signed on to hit the ice, and Olympian Johnny Weir is on the panel of judges. — Jennifer SankowskiRead on for previews of Chelsea's Big Interview Special, Monday Night Football, American Masters, Two and a Half Men, The Real Story of Thanksgiving and Public Speaking.

Mon, Nov 22, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 22, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Chuck8/7c NBC Season 4 has sorely tested Chuck and Sarah's romance. Sarah's initial reluctance to move in with him, a marked lack of agreement about having children, communication breakdowns and their first official fight have threatened to undo them. Worried his relationship with Sarah is splintering, Chuck tries to prove his worth tonight and springs into a daunting assignment with a too-ambitious agent (Rob Riggle). Back at Buy More, Nerd Herd staffers delve into the true identity of Greta (Summer Glau), triggering Morgan and Casey's speedy interference. Richard Chamberlain guest stars. — Dean Maurer

Mon, Nov 15, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 1, 2010

Gossip Girl9/8c CWIt's B's b-day, so that means the day is full of surprises, like in the form of an unexpected guest at her party. The birthday girl will also have to deal with Serena and Nate trying to end her and Chuck's devious mind games. Singer Robyn performs.Read on for previews of The Women of SNL, Dancing with the Stars, Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood, Monday Night Football, Two and a Half Men, Weeds and Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby.

Mon, Nov 1, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Nov. 1, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Oct. 25, 2010

Hawaii Five-010/9c CBS Tonight's case turns personal for Kono when her former surfing mentor is shot to death and the prime suspect is an old flame who had motive for the killing. The victim was the CEO of a major surf company and helped Kono when she surfed professionally. The investigation plunges Five-0 into the varied but tightly connected worlds of North Shore surfing. — Tim HollandRead on for previews of In Treatment, Dancing with the Stars, Two and a Half Men, Monday Night Football, Halloween: The Inside Story and The Big C.

Mon, Oct 25, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Oct. 25, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Oct. 18, 2010

The Talk2/1c CBS Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Jaret Winokur host this View-like chat fest in which the six working moms discuss their lives at home in addition to current events and news. Celebrity guests will also be featured on each episode. Christie Brinkley is up first. The series airs each weekday. — Tim HollandRead on for previews of Dancing with the Stars, House, How I Met Your Mother, Monday Night Football, Cake Boss and Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It.

Mon, Oct 18, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Oct. 18, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

Chase10/9c NBC After a blistering premiere episode last week that introduced this intrepid squad from the U.S. Marshal's office, a second case also hits the ground running. This time a state trooper's son is murdered and the team seeks out the notorious escapee "El Lobo," aka Eduardo Lopez. El Lobo leads them on a chase that has him racing to catch up to a couple the team learns is holding onto something that the fugitive will stop at nothing to get his paws on. — Ray StackhouseRead on for previews of Castle, Chuck, How I Met Your Mother, Monday Night Football, Teenage Paparazzo and Weeds.

Mon, Sep 27, 2010
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Sept. 27, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Dec. 28, 2009

Men of a Certain Age10/9c TNT The insightful series continues to mine dramedy gold from male bonding, time-honored friendships and midlife crises. But it's not all golden for Joe. His ex-wife (Penelope Ann Miller) joins the Thoreaus for a school charity event — and she arrives with a new boyfriend in tow. Also at the function is perennial bachelor Terry, who serves as an auctioneer and happens upon a past ladylove. But back to Joe's woes: His less-than-glittery social agenda involves hanging out with his bookie, Manfo.Read on for previews of True Blood, Dog Whisperer, Monday Night Football and 100 Most Shocking Music Moments.

Mon, Dec 28, 2009
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Dec. 28, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Dec. 21, 2009

The Closer9/8c TNT The crime drama closes a three-show winter arc — and, by extension, its fifth season — with an episode that vaunts the return of head-butting Capt. Raydor (Mary McDonnell). Raydor reaches out to Major Crimes and top cop Brenda Leigh Johnson to help on a nerve-jangling internal investigation. It's a delicate matter swirling around the alleged spousal abuse of a female officer — but there is more to the case than meets the eye. Juxtaposing all this prime crime, as always, are domestic developments, as Fritz grows weary of Brenda's neglect.Read on for previews of The Sing-off, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, Monday Night Football and the World Chocolate Championship.

Mon, Dec 21, 2009
Tonight's TV Hot List: Monday, Dec. 21, 2009

Kimmel Discusses His Monday Night Football Ban

Imagine finding out you’re fired by reading about it in the New York Times. That’s just what happened to ABC late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, who kept colleagues and fans laughing as a guest on the long-running sports show Monday Night Football on Oct. 15."I guess the executive producer was upset with some jokes I made on the air, and I’m still not sure which ones, but he announced to the New York Times that I was banned from Monday Night Football," says Kimmel. "I was surprised — I was just a guest [commentator] — this is the first time I’ve been fired from a job I didn’t have."Kimmel adds, "I don’t feel I owe anyone an apology; quite the reverse, actually. Everyone seemed really happy in the booth and [then] I left and then I read in the New York Times that he’s banned me.""That is synergy in action," jokes Kimmel on learning about his ban through the newspaper. "He told the newspaper before he told me — he still hasn’t...

Thu, Oct 18, 2007
Kimmel Discusses His Monday Night Football Ban

Ratings: Monday Night Football Tackles Record

A few miscellaneous ratings highlights from wherever and whenever:• This week's Monday Night Football barnburner between the Bills and Cowboys gave ESPN the honor of the most-watched cable television outing of 2007 to date. MNF sacked the record held by High School Musical 2.• Dexter (889,000 total viewers) dipped a bit from its premiere, but lead-out Brotherhood (517,000) saw a 30 percent boost, thanks to the elimination of a seven-minute break between the Showtime shows.• TBS' coverage of MLB's divisional playoffs averaged 5.3 million viewers, giving the 31-year-old cabler its best week ever. (And they say everyone hits their prime at age 27.)

Wed, Oct 10, 2007

Monday Night Football Sacks Joe Theismann

But at least this time, we didn't see his leg get bent in unnatural ways. [Shudder] The former NFL quarterback has been booted from ESPN's Monday Night Football team, replaced with retired Eagles QB Ron Jaworski, whom insiders suspect is seen to be a better fit with color man Tony Kornheiser. Theismann will be offered another football job at ESPN.

Tue, Mar 27, 2007

Can't Wait to Get Started

Looking forward to blogging about Monday Night Football each week.

Fri, Nov 3, 2006

Ready for Some Football? ESPN Is!

On a new network and with new announcers in the booth, Monday Night Football may seem a bit different when it kicks off its season Sept. 11 at 7 pm/ET, on ESPN. But one thing will sound awfully familiar: Hank Williams Jr.'s iconic opening salvo, "Are you ready for some football?!" The night's doubleheader of Minnesota at Washington and San Diego at Oakland marks the 16th year the country legend has supplied the rousing intro, actually titled "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming over Monday Night." In fact, Williams ("Bocephus" to his fans) is known more for the MNF theme in some circles than for his hits like "Family Tradition." A hotel bellman in Detroit once even referred to him as the "Rowdy Friend." "[The song] was

Fri, Sep 8, 2006
Ready for Some Football? ESPN Is!

Suzy Kolber Has a Monday Night Date

Before she made headlines by snapping back at Andy Rooney's 2002 sputterings about how women had "no business" talking about  football, and long before Joe Namath — drunk and slurry, in a sideline moment preserved for all time by thousands of YouTube downloads — declared that he wanted to kiss her, Suzy Kolber was a little girl in love with football. She remembers being 8 years old, in suburban Philadelphia, mesmerized by Howard Cosell's Monday-night halftime highlights. She made national headlines when she was 10, one of the first girls to make a boy's football

Thu, Aug 31, 2006
Suzy Kolber Has a Monday Night Date

Suzy Kolber Has a Monday Night Date

Before she made headlines by snapping back at Andy Rooney's 2002 sputterings about how women had "no business" talking about  football, and long before Joe Namath — drunk and slurry, in a sideline moment preserved for all time by thousands of YouTube downloads — declared that he wanted to kiss her, Suzy Kolber was a little girl in love with football. She remembers being 8 years old, in suburban Philadelphia, mesmerized by Howard Cosell's Monday-night halftime highlights. She made national headlines when she was 10, one of the first girls to make a boy's football

Wed, Aug 30, 2006
Suzy Kolber Has a Monday Night Date

MICHAELS MIA FROM MNF TEAM

ESPN on Wednesday unveiled its Monday Night Football broadcast team and, as speculated, Al Michaels isn't on the list. USA Today confirms that the veteran sportscaster, whose original plan was to follow MNF from ABC to the cabler, instead was able to be released from his ESPN deal so as to join John Madden's eyebrows on NBC's Sunday-night NFL coverage next season. So who is in ESPN's booth? Mike Tirico, Joe Theismann and Pardon the Interruption's Tony Kornheiser. Mike, you make us Orangemen proud. The next slice at Varsity is on me.

Wed, Feb 8, 2006
MICHAELS MIA FROM MNF TEAM

NIGHT, NIGHT

Monday Night Football and ABC, its home for 36 years, parted ways last night with the telecast of the New England Patriots' 31-21 win over the New York Jets. (Interestingly, in a Hurley-and-his-numbers way, that was the same score tallied in MNF's first outing, the Cleveland Browns' Sept. 21, 1970, victory over the Jets.) Next season, ESPN begins its eight-year deal to host the weekly prime-time contest.

Tue, Dec 27, 2005

MNF's New Draft Pick

Monday Night Football's decision to sack buxom sideline reporter Lisa Guerrero and bring in ESPN vet Michele Tafoya may not go over too well with the broadcast's young male viewers. But you don't have to tell Tafoya that. "I know I'm not a pinup," concedes the 39-year-old NBA fixture. "I'm just a no-nonsense reporter who is really, really passionate about sports." It's a distinction true football fans can appreciate — especially coming off of last season's on-air fiasco. Guerrero's brief gridiron gig was universally panned by critics, many of whom blasted ABC for shamelessly emphasizing sex appeal over substance in its pursuit of that ever-elusive younger demo. For her part, Tafoya doesn't blame the network for hiring actresses to play broadcasters. "TV is a really visual medium," she says. "Really beautiful people get you to stop and watch and that's just the way it is; that's natural. Believe me, if I could have it all I would

Tue, May 25, 2004