Yes, is there monday night football anymore has a simple answer: Monday Night Football is still part of the NFL schedule during the regular season. If you cannot find a game, it may be the offseason, a bye week, or a change to that week’s TV lineup.
This guide explains when the games usually air, where to look for the broadcast, and why the schedule can seem different from year to year. You’ll also learn what to check when a game is missing from your usual channel or streaming service.
is there monday night football anymore?
Yes. Monday Night Football still exists as a regular NFL broadcast during the season. The name refers to a scheduled game, or sometimes more than one game, played on Monday night and shown on a national broadcast. It has not been discontinued.
The confusion usually comes from timing. The NFL season lasts only part of the year, and Monday games are not shown every week of the calendar. There can also be schedule changes, games on different channels, and weeks when the league puts its attention on another day.
Monday Night Football began in 1970. It is now associated with ESPN, with some games also available on ABC. The exact channel and viewing options depend on the particular game and season, so check the listing for the date rather than assuming every Monday game appears in the same place.
When does Monday Night Football air?
Monday Night Football is generally played during the NFL regular season, which runs from early fall into winter. Games usually take place on Monday evening in the United States. The kickoff time can vary, and a doubleheader may feature two games at different times.
The NFL schedule is released before each season, but the league can adjust some games later. That means a game’s date, kickoff time, or broadcast arrangement may not stay exactly as first announced. A schedule change does not mean the Monday night package has ended.
Why there may be no game this Monday
Check the calendar first. If it is spring or summer, the regular season has not started or has already ended. During the season, a particular Monday can also be empty because the NFL has arranged that week’s games on other days, or because the season’s schedule has a break.
Holiday weeks can look different, too. Thanksgiving and other special NFL dates may bring games on Thursday, Sunday, or another day, while Monday’s lineup changes. The league’s schedule is not a promise of one game on every Monday of the year.
Practical tip: Search the NFL schedule by the actual date, not just by the program name. This helps distinguish a week with no Monday game from a game that has moved or is listed under a different broadcast channel.
Where to watch Monday Night Football
ESPN is the primary national home for Monday Night Football in the United States. ABC carries selected games, and some broadcasts may be shown on both networks. Depending on the matchup, local availability and the rights in effect that season, you may have more than one way to watch.
Streaming access can be more complicated than finding the channel. Some services carry ESPN or ABC as part of a live-TV package; other services may not. A streaming subscription that includes one game or network does not necessarily include every NFL broadcast. Always confirm that the specific game is listed in the service’s schedule.
| Viewing option | What to check | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN on cable or satellite | Whether your package includes ESPN and the game is scheduled there | Viewers with a traditional TV subscription |
| ABC | Whether that week’s game is simulcast on ABC in your area | Viewers who receive local broadcast channels |
| Live-TV streaming service | Whether it carries ESPN or the relevant local ABC station | People who want a cable-style channel lineup online |
| Official NFL or network app | Game availability, subscription terms, location rules, and device limits | Viewers watching on a phone, tablet, or supported TV |
| Sports bar or public viewing venue | That the venue carries the correct network and game | Fans without a suitable home TV package |
For a reliable answer, look up the matchup on the NFL’s schedule or the network’s program guide, then compare it with the channels included in your service. The network’s app may require a participating TV provider or a separate subscription. Streaming rights can differ by location and season.
Can you watch Monday Night Football for free?
Sometimes, but not every game is freely available to every viewer. If a game is shown on a local ABC station, a household with a suitable antenna may be able to receive that station without a paid TV subscription. Reception depends on your location, antenna, and local broadcast signal.
ESPN is a pay-TV channel, so access commonly requires a TV package or an authorized streaming option that carries it. Free trials and promotional offers change, and they may not include the network or game you want. Check the terms before relying on an offer for kickoff.
Why the Monday Night Football schedule can look different
The NFL builds its schedule across several broadcast windows. Games are spread among Thursday night, Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, and Monday night, with additional holiday or special-event games. This creates a full weekly slate without requiring the league to play every team on the same day.
Some Monday nights feature a doubleheader, meaning two games are scheduled one after another. Other weeks have one game. Matchups, kickoff times, and broadcast assignments vary by season, so an older schedule or TV guide may not reflect this year’s plan.
The NFL can also adjust certain late-season games under its scheduling rules. These changes are intended to give important matchups a more suitable time slot, but they can make an early printed schedule less useful. If you set a recording or plan to watch out of home, confirm the listing again close to game day.
What about the ManningCast?
The ManningCast is an alternate Monday Night Football presentation featuring former quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. It is not a separate game. It offers a different commentary style, with guests and conversation alongside the live action, and is usually carried on ESPN2 when scheduled.
It does not necessarily air for every Monday Night Football game. If you want that feed, look for it separately in the network guide. The main ESPN broadcast remains the standard play-by-play option, while ESPN2’s alternate program may have a different start or availability.
Does Monday Night Football run during the playoffs?
Monday Night Football is mainly a regular-season program, not a weekly playoff series. The NFL postseason follows a separate schedule. Playoff games are placed across several days and networks, and a Monday game is possible in some postseason formats or seasons, but it should not be assumed.
If you are checking a Monday in January, search the full NFL postseason schedule rather than relying on the regular-season Monday Night Football label. A playoff game may be broadcast by ESPN, ABC, or another rights-holding network, depending on the year and matchup.
How to find out whether a game is on tonight
Use this quick check before kickoff. It helps prevent the common mistake of assuming that the program vanished when the game is simply on another channel or at another time.
- Confirm the date and season. Monday Night Football is a seasonal NFL broadcast, so first make sure the regular season or a relevant postseason game is underway.
- Look up the matchup. Search the official NFL schedule or a current TV listing for the exact Monday date. Confirm both teams and the kickoff time.
- Check the listed network. See whether the game is assigned to ESPN, ABC, or another outlet. Do not rely on last season’s channel arrangement.
- Match the channel to your service. Check your cable package, local broadcast reception, or streaming service’s current channel list and live schedule.
- Recheck close to game day. Late schedule changes and local coverage details can affect where or when a game appears.
If a listing shows no game, that may be correct for that date. The NFL does not schedule Monday Night Football throughout the offseason, and special weeks can use a different game lineup.
Common reasons you cannot find the game
You are checking during the offseason
The most frequent explanation is that the NFL regular season is not being played. There are months between the end of one season and the start of the next. The league still has news and other events during that period, but those do not mean a Monday night game is scheduled.
Your service does not carry the channel
A streaming subscription may include on-demand shows or some sports without carrying ESPN’s live channel. Similarly, not every local station is available through every internet TV package. Check the exact channel lineup and the event listing, rather than relying on a service’s general sports advertising.
The game is listed under a different feed
A main broadcast, an alternate commentary feed, and a local channel listing can appear as separate entries. Search for the teams as well as the words Monday Night Football. If you want the standard broadcast, choose the listing marked ESPN or ABC for that game, not an alternate program by default.
Your guide has not updated
TV guides and saved schedules can show old information after the league changes a time or broadcast. Refresh the guide, search the matchup again, or check the network’s current listing. If recording matters, verify the program title and time before leaving the recording set.
How Monday Night Football differs from other NFL games
Monday Night Football is a branded national broadcast window, not a different set of football rules. The game follows standard NFL rules and counts as part of the regular season when it is a regular-season matchup. The distinctive element is the scheduled Monday slot and its TV presentation.
It is easy to confuse the brand with all NFL football played on Mondays. A special Monday game may appear outside the regular Monday Night Football package, and a Monday Night Football broadcast may have a different presentation on an alternate channel. The date, matchup, and network listing tell you what is actually available.
Likewise, an NFL game on Thursday night or Sunday night is not Monday Night Football, even if it is a national prime-time broadcast. Those are separate programming windows with their own broadcast arrangements.
What most viewers get wrong about missing games
A blank Monday does not mean the series has ended. It usually means there is no game scheduled for that date, the season is over or has not begun, or the game is carried on a channel you are not checking. Those explanations are more likely than the NFL removing the program altogether.
Another common mistake is treating ESPN, ABC, and streaming apps as interchangeable. A game appearing on one does not guarantee that it is on all of them. Broadcast rights, local access, and subscription requirements can differ, so verify the exact game rather than buying a package based on a broad assumption.
Finally, do not confuse a broadcast delay or a changed kickoff with a cancellation. Weather, scheduling decisions, or other circumstances can affect a game, but the current official listing is the best way to tell whether it has moved. If the listing is unclear, check the NFL or network schedule immediately before the broadcast.
Yes, is there monday night football anymore still has a straightforward answer: the NFL continues to schedule Monday Night Football during the regular season. A missing game usually means the league is in its offseason, that week has no Monday matchup, or the broadcast is on a different channel.
Before kickoff, check the current NFL schedule for the date, matchup, time, and network. Then confirm that your TV or streaming service carries that specific broadcast.