Original Monday Night Football Announcers are Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, and Don Meredith. The trio called the games in the 1970 season.
Roone Arledge’s, the AC Sports Producer, first choices were Vin Scully and Curt Gowdy. When they turned down the offer, he went with Keith.
Jackson was the play-by-play announcer in the inaugural campaign, while Cosell and Meredith were the color commentators.
In 1971, Jackson headed to cover College Football games, leaving the post vacated for Frank Gifford to handle the responsibility.
Starting from 1970, the production was under the ABC network. Chet Forte took the director’s chair from 1970 to 1986. He is the longest-serving director of the show.
Larry Kamm succeeded him. Craig Janoff, Drew Esocoff, Chip Dean, and Jimmy Platt were other directors till 2022. The 2023 campaign will be under Derek Mobley.
Monday Night Football Announcers History
Monday Night Football announcers history dates to September 21, 1970, when three men called the game between the Browns and NY Jets.
The original trio of Jackson, Cosell, and Meredith paved the path for many other commentators. Frank Gifford joined Cosell and Meredith in 1971 and ran the operation till 1973.
Fred Willamson joined them in 1974. Don Meredith took a two-year hiatus in 1975 and 1976. He returned a year later.
Cosell stayed in the show for 14 years before parting ways in 1983. Meredith spent 13 years with the production.
Likewise, Gifford was associated with the program for 27 years, from 1971 to 1997. It is the longest commitment by any broadcaster in the MNF’s history.
During that period, he paired up with numerous personalities like Al Michaels, O.J. Simpson, Joe Namath, Fran Tarkenton, Alex Karras, Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann, and Lesley Visser.
Here are all the announcers who have been part of the production since its inception in 1970.
| Year | Announcers |
| 1970 | Keith Jackson, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith |
| 1971-73 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith |
| 1974 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fred Williamson |
| 1975-76 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Alex Karras |
| 1977-78 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith |
| 1979-82 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, Fran Tarkenton |
| 1983 | Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson |
| 1984 | Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, O.J. Simpson, |
| 1985 | Frank Gifford, O.J. Simpson, Joe Namath |
| 1986 | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford |
| 1987-93 | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf |
| 1994-96 | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lynn Swann |
| 1997 | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf, Lesley Visser |
| 1998 | Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason, Lesley Visser |
| 1999 | Al Michaels, Boomer Esiason, Lesley Visser |
| 2000-01 | Al Michaels, Dan Fouts, Dennis Miller, Melissa Stark, Eric Dickerson |
| 2002 | Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark |
| 2003 | Al Michaels, John Madden, Lisa Guerrero |
| 2004 | Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya |
| 2005 | Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya, Sam Ryan |
| 2006-08 | Mike Tirico, Tony Kornheiser, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya |
| 2009-10 | Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski, Suzy Kolber, Michele Tafoya |
| 2011 | Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Ron Jaworski |
| 2012-15 | Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters |
| 2016-17 | Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters |
| 2018 | Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters |
| 2019 | Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters |
| 2020-21 | Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters |
| 2022 | Joey Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters |
Monday Night Football Broadcasters
Monday Night Football commentators for 2023 season are:
- Joe Buck
- Troy Aikman
- Lisa Salters
Lisa Salters has been the sideline reporter involved with the show since 2012. She has been at ESPN since March 2000.
She replaced Suzy Kolber and was teamed up with Mike Tirico and Jon Gurden. She was given a significant role in the commentating team in 2018, where she worked with Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland.
The major highlights of her career involve her work with:
- The O.J. Simpson murder case
- 2006 Winter Olympics
- 2002 FIFA World Cup
- 2004 Olympic Games
- 2006 and 2007 NBA Finals
The graduate of Pennsylvania State University has reported worldwide. Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, and Iraq are some nations she has traveled to for work.
Likewise, the charismatic and appealing duo of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will once again appear as the focal people for the MNF. It will be their second season with the program.
Aikman and Buck signed a five-year deal with ESPN in 2022. The former-Dallas Cowboys Quarterback will make $92.5 million.
Similarly, Buck is guaranteed somewhere between $60 to 75 million.
The duo has been partnered for 21 years and will break the record of Pat Summerall and John Madden for the longest partners in the booth in 2023.
They have been the voice for six Super Bowl Games, and if they call the SB LVIII, they will create a new record.
Disney’s Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content, Jimmy Pitaro, said: “When you have the opportunity to bring in the iconic, longest-running NFL broadcasting duo, you take it.” He was delighted to have them on board for the 2022 season and wants to work with the two in the coming years.
On a different note, Chris Fowler will return to the No. 2 MNF booth. Steve Levy bids farewell to the program.
First Televised Monday Night Football Game
First ever Monday Night Football Game televised saw Cleveland Browns host New York Jets at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. It was broadcasted through ABC.
The fixture took place on 21st September 1970. ABC set the $65K per minute to advertise products during the game.
The match featured some iconic names like Jack Gregory, Ron Snidow, Joe Namath, George Sauer, Homer Jones, Billy Andrews, Emerson Boozer, Bo Scott, Gary Collins, Don Cockroft, Jim Turner, Bill Nelesen, and Leroy Kelly.
The Municipal stadium witnessed a roaring 85,703 spectators attend the fixture.
The Jets were the 1969 Super Bowl winners, and Quarterback Joe Namath was a huge name heading into the game. Taking the home crowd’s advantage, the Browns opened the score and led by 14-0 in the first quarter.
Bo Scott ran a great play for a two-yard touchdown in the opening quarter.
Namath brought the visiting team back into the game. He made eight plays for 61 yards to get the scoreboard to 14-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Homer Jones scored a touchdown while Don Cockroft made a field goal for the home side. The visitors also managed to get 7 points in that quarter. The score was 24-14.
The final quarter saw Namath enter the zone with 80 yards gained in four plays. His last pass found George Sauer and made the score 24-21, only a three-point lead for the Browns.
After the punt by Cockroft, the Jets moved to 18-yard with only a minute remaining on the clock. Billy Andrews intercepted the pass from Joe and rushed 25 yards to the opponent’s endzone. It turned the game around, and the Browns secured the first MNF victory by 31-21.
Namath attempted 31 and completed 18 throws. Homer Jones made two kick returns, covered 116 yards, and registered a touchdown.
Monday Night Football History
Monday Night Football history saw thirteen games broadcasted in 1970. The Chiefs vs. Colts on 28th September saw a combined score of 68.
Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders has featured a record of twenty times. The Broncos have a slight edge in the Broncos-Raiders rivalry with a record of 10-9-1.
Likewise, other significant rivalries prevalent in the MNF are:
- Dallas Cowboys (9) vs. Washington Commanders (8) – 17 times
- Los Angeles Rams (4) vs. San Francisco 49ers (11) – 15 times
- Miami Dolphins (7) vs. New York Jets (7) – 14 times
- Dallas Cowboys (10) vs. New York Giants (3) – 13 times
- Dallas Cowboys (9) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (4) – 13 times
- Miami Dolphins (6) vs. New England Patriots (6) – 12 times
- Cincinnati Bengals (4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8) – 12 times
Patriots Monday Night Football history is 29 wins in 57 games. They have recorded 159 touchdowns.
The most appearance in MNF goes to Dallas Cowboys. They have appeared 88 times with a record of 50-38.
Bills Monday Night Football history is 21-29 in fifty games. They have 119 touchdowns.
Likewise, below is the record of other teams in MNF:
| Teams | Record |
| Arizona Cardinals | 15-26-1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 15-28 |
| Green Bay Packers | 40-32-1 |
| New York Jets | 23-25 |
| New York Giants | 26-48-3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 17-20 |
| Detroit Lions | 19-23-1 |
| Houston Texans | 5-10 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 31-36 |
| New Orleans Saints | 24-26 |
| Chicago Bears | 37-43 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 25-25 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 33-36 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 43-31-1 |
| Denver Broncos | 32-44-1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 12-26 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 25-21 |
| Washington Commanders | 33-46 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 16-13 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 33-19 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 39-31 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 55-31-1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 10-7 |
| Miami Dolphins | 43-43 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 8-7 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 29-12 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 14-12 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 52-29 |
| Tennessee Titans | 25-21 |