Who Played on Monday Night Football?
Contents
The answer to the question “Who played on Monday Night Football?” can be found right here! We’ll give you a rundown of the teams that have played on Monday Night Football over the years, as well as some of the most memorable moments from the game.
Introduction
Monday Night Football is a live television broadcast of weekly National Football League games on ESPN. From 1970 to 2005, it aired on sister network ABC. Monday Night Football is also broadcast in Canada on TSN and RDS, and in most of Europe. On September 7, 1970, the very first Monday Night Football game was played between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns. Since then,Monday Night Football has become one of the most watched programs on television.
History of Monday Night Football
The first Monday Night Football game was played on September 21, 1970 between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. The Browns won the game, 31-21. Monday Night Football has been a staple on prime-time television ever since. Let’s take a look at the history of this iconic American tradition.
The First Game
The first Monday Night Football game was played on September 21, 1970, between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns. The game was broadcast on ABC and became an instant hit, with Howard Cosell becoming a household name.
The Jets ended up winning the game, but it was the Browns that really won the night, as they showed the country that football could be played and enjoyed on a Monday night.
The MNF Theme Song
Monday Night Football has been a staple of American television for over 50 years. The game itself is always highly anticipated, but one of the biggest reasons people tune in is for the halftime show. This is where the biggest names in music perform live, and it’s always a can’t-miss event.
But what about the Monday Night Football theme song? It’s one of the most recognizable tunes on TV, and it gets people pumped up for the game every single week. So who wrote it and how did it become such an iconic part of American culture?
The Monday Night Football theme song was written by Hank Williams Jr. in 1989. He was inspired to write it after watching a Monday Night Football game with his father, country music legend Hank Williams Sr. The elder Williams had been a big fan of the show, and young Hank wanted to honor his father by writing a song for it.
The rest, as they say, is history. The song became an instant classic, and it’s been used to open every Monday Night Football broadcast since. It’s even spawned some memorable parody versions over the years, including one from Weird Al Yankovic and another from country music star Garth Brooks.
So whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just someone who loves great music, there’s no denying that the Monday Night Football theme song is a bona fide American institution.
The Howard Cosell Years
Monday Night Football is one of the most popular programs in the history of American television. It has been broadcast on ABC since 1970, making it the longest-running prime-time show on network television. The show was originally created as a way to showcase the NFL’s top talent on a weekly basis and to generate interest in the league. The first Monday Night Football game was played between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns on September 21, 1970.
Howard Cosell, a legendary sports broadcaster, was one of the original commentators for Monday Night Football. Cosell brought a level of sophistication and intelligence to the broadcast that was unprecedented for a sporting event. His candid style and often controversial opinions made him one of the most polarizing figures in sports broadcasting. Cosell remained with Monday Night Football until 1983, when he left ABC to join NBC’s experimental cable network, ESPN.
Cosell was replaced on Monday Night Football by Frank Gifford, another broadcasting legend. Gifford had previously been an NFL player for the New York Giants before retiring in 1964 to pursue a career in broadcasting. He quickly established himself as one of the top sportscasters in the country. Gifford remained with Monday Night Football until 1998, when he retired from broadcasting altogether.
Since 1998, Monday Night Football has been broadcast by a rotating crew of commentators, including Al Michaels, Joe Theismann, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason, Dennis Miller, and Tony Kornheiser. The current commentators are Michael Vick, Jason Witten, and Joe Tessitore.
The Al Michaels Years
In 1986, Al Michaels was hired away from ABC to call NFL games full-time for NBC. Michaels became the voice of the NFL on NBC, calling that network’s coverage of Super Bowl XXII in 1988 (with Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen in the booth) and Super Bowl XXIII in 1989 (with Dick Enberg and Bob Trumpy). When ABC lost the NFL television contract to CBS following the 1989 season, Monday Night Football was not part of the television deal, due to NBC’s acquisition of the AFC package.
Michaels continued as the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC’s coverage of NFL games, including their Wild Card game coverage and ultimately, their coverage of Super Bowl XXXII in 1998. He would continue in this role until 2005, when he was replaced by Joe Theismann due to a contract dispute.
Notable Monday Night Football Games
Monday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of National Football League games. It began airing on September 21, 1970. The game typically features two NFL teams playing against each other. Monday Night Football is one of the most watched shows on television.
The Heidi Game
On November 17, 1968, the Oakland Raiders scored two late touchdowns to beat the visiting New York Jets 43-32. But most people who tuned in to watch the game that night never saw the thrilling finish.
As the game entered its final minutes, NBCLX opted to air the television movie Heidi instead of showing the football game’s conclusion. The result was one of the most infamous incidents in television history.
Viewers who tuned in late missed seeing Oakland’s comeback, and instead saw only the film’s opening minutes. As word spread of what was happening, millions of angry football fans flooded NBC’s switchboards with complaints. The network was forced to issue an on-air apology and promise to show the game’s ending on a later broadcast.
Despite the uproar, Heidi went on to become one of television’s most beloved films. It has been shown countless times in the decades since, and remains a holiday favorite today.
The Tuck Rule Game
On January 19, 2002, in a playoff game against the Oakland Raiders, the New England Patriots were trailing 13–10 with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter. On a second down play, Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady appeared to fumble the ball while being sacked by Raiders’ corner Charles Woodson. However, officials ruled that Brady had lost control of the ball before being down by contact, and thus it was an incomplete pass rather than a fumble. The play resulted in a turnover on downs, and the Raiders were able to run out the clock and win the game.
The “tuck rule” game has been cited as one of the most controversial finishes in NFL history, and its aftermath resulted in a change to the NFL rules regarding what is ruled a fumble.
The Miracle at the Meadowlands
One of the most famous comebacks in NFL history occurred on November 17, 1978, in a game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles were leading 17-12 with just seconds remaining in the game when Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik fumbled while attempting to hand off to running back Larry Csonka. Eagles defensive back Herman Edwards scooped up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown, giving Philadelphia a stunning 23-17 victory. The play became known as “The Miracle at the Meadowlands” and its aftermath resulted in major changes to the way NFL teams handle late-game situations.
Conclusion
The Monday Night Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs was one of the most highly-anticipated games of the season. It did not disappoint, as the Rams came out on top 54-51 in what was an instant classic.
The Rams were led by their two superstar running backs, Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson. Gurley had 21 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns, while Anderson had 16 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jared Goff also had a great game, throwing for 391 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chiefs were led by their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who had 483 passing yards and six touchdowns. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill also had a big game, catching seven passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
This was an incredible game that will be remembered for years to come.