Monday Night Football (MNF) will return to television for it’s 49th season on September 10th and ESPN is planing a full slate of entertainment for NFL fans. Jon Gruden will share his expert coaching advice during the first game of the year, and throughout the 2018 season, the 2017 playoff teams will stop by for more Monday Night Football excitement.
2018 MNF Highlights:
ESPN Media Zone shares the following highlights for the 2018 Monday Night Football Season:
- Gruden’s Return – Former MNF analyst Jon Gruden makes his NFL coaching return in ESPN’s Los Angeles Rams vs. Oakland Raiders season-opening doubleheader game on Sept. 10.
- MNF in Mexico City – ESPN will again televise the NFL International Series game in Mexico City when the Kansas City Chiefs play the Rams on Nov. 19. ESPN carried the Texans-Raiders game in Mexico in 2016.
- Appearances by both Super Bowl teams – New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (Oct. 29); and Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins (Dec. 3).
- Appearances by 11 of 12 playoff teams from 2017 – Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans (12 MNF games feature at least one playoff team).
- Ten teams have multiple MNF appearances – Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins.
- Live streaming on all devices – All MNF games will be streamed live on all devices, including mobile phones, via the ESPN App.
What to expect each week:
ESPN will be bringing exclusive content to viewers all from the comfort of their home.
September: Gruden’s Return to the Raiders, Wilson in the Windy City, and Big Ben against the Bucs
- Sept. 10: Season-opening doubleheader – New York Jets at Detroit Lions, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, followed by the Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders.
- Sept. 17: Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks travel to Chicago to face Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears.
- Sept. 24: Ben Roethlisberger and the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers face Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
October: Mahomes at Mile High, Jimmy G vs. Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau, MNF returns to Buffalo as Brady battles the Bills
- Oct. 1: Patrick Mahomes and the AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Case Keenum and the Denver Broncos in a key division rivalry game. The Broncos extend the NFL’s longest current streak, appearing on MNF for the 27th consecutive season (1992-present).
- Oct. 8: Alex Smith and the Washington Redskins face Drew Brees and the Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
- Oct. 15: Jimmy Garoppolo makes his MNF debut as the San Francisco 49ers face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at historic Lambeau Field during the Packers’ 100thseason of football.
- Oct. 22: Eli Manning and the New York Giants travel south to Atlanta to play Matt Ryan and the Falcons.
- Oct. 29: Tom Brady leads the AFC champion New England Patriots into Buffalo to face the AFC East rival Bills in the first MNF game in Western New York since November 2008.
November: Mariota Meets Dak in Dallas and Deshaun in Houston, MNF in Mexico City
- Nov. 5: Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans, coming off their first playoff appearance since 2008, travel to Arlington, Texas, to face the Dallas Cowboys led by Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
- Nov. 12: Manning and the Giants make their second MNF appearance of the season vs. Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium as a classic NFC rivalry is renewed.
- Nov. 19: MNF returns to Mexico City for the second time in three years with Chiefs vs. Rams in a battle of 2017 NFL playoff teams at Estadio Azteca. Star cornerback Marcus Peters, now with LA, faces his former Chiefs team after being traded this offseason.
- Nov. 26: In a matchup of top young quarterbacks, Mariota and the Titans battle Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans in a pivotal AFC South game.
December: Super Bowl champion Eagles vs. Redskins, Cousins vs. Wilson in Seattle, Broncos-Raiders 18th MNF meeting on Christmas Eve
- Dec. 3: Smith and the Redskins open December in Philadelphia against Carson Wentz and the Super Bowl champion Eagles in an important NFC East rivalry game.
- Dec. 10: Kirk Cousins and the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings, who advanced to the NFC Championship game last season, travel to Seattle to face Wilson and the Seahawks in a game that could have playoff implications.
- Dec. 17: Brees and the Saints visit Cam Newton and the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers down the stretch. Both teams are coming off identical 11-5 records and a close matchup in last season’s NFC Wild Card round.
- Dec. 24: On Christmas Eve, ESPN’s MNF regular-season finale will feature its most popular rivalry game as Derek Carr and the Raiders host Von Miller and the Denver Broncos – an NFL-record 18th meeting between the AFC West foes on Monday Night.
Monday Night Football Schedule:
| Preseason | ||
| Date | Time (ET) | Teams |
| Aug. 16 | 8 p.m. | New York Jets at Washington Redskins |
| Aug. 20 | 8 p.m. | Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts |
| Regular Season | ||
| Sept. 10 | 7:10 p.m. | New York Jets at Detroit Lions |
| 10:15 p.m. | Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders | |
| Sept. 17 | 8:15 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears |
| Sept. 24 | 8:15 p.m. | Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Oct. 1 | 8:15 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos |
| Oct. 8 | 8:15 p.m. | Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints |
| Oct. 15 | 8:15 p.m. | San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers |
| Oct. 22 | 8:15 p.m. | New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons |
| Oct. 29 | 8:15 p.m. | New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills |
| Nov. 5 | 8:15 p.m. | Tennessee Titans at Dallas Cowboys |
| Nov. 12 | 8:15 p.m. | New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers |
| Nov. 19 | 8:15 p.m. | Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams(Mexico City) |
| Nov. 26 | 8:15 p.m. | Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans |
| Dec. 3 | 8:15 p.m. | Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Dec. 10 | 8:15 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks |
| Dec. 17 | 8:15 p.m. | New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers |
| Dec. 24 | 8:15 p.m. | Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders |
| Jan. 5-6 | TBD | NFL Wild Card Playoff Game |
ICYMI:
With so many positive changes taking place at ESPN, it’s clear they’ve had quite a busy start to 2018.
- ESPN launched ESPN+ on April 12th. This direct to consumer subscription service provides coverage and content to fans of multiple sports including, golf, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, NASCAR and more.
- In March, James Pitaro was named President of ESPN and Co-Chair, Disney Media Networks
Monday Night Football will air on ESPN Network. Viewers must have a cable or satellite package that includes ESPN Network in order to enjoy the Monday Night Football games and content.