The exact time depends on which Monday Night Football game you mean. Most regular-season games kick off at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, but a date or matchup is needed to confirm a past game.
This guide explains the usual kickoff schedule, how to find the time for a specific game, and how to convert it to your time zone. It also clears up a common mix-up: the broadcast can begin well before the actual kickoff.
what time was monday night football?
If you mean a standard regular-season game, the usual kickoff is 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time. But there is no single answer for every Monday: the schedule can include more than one game, and special dates may use different kickoff times.
To identify the time of a particular past game, you need its date, teams, or both. Share those details with a search engine or check the NFL’s schedule and game recap. Those records show the scheduled kickoff, while a recap or play-by-play can help establish when the game actually began.
If you remember the matchup but not the date, search the team names together with “Monday Night Football.” If you remember the week or season, include that too. A broad search for a time without a date or teams may return a current schedule instead of the game you have in mind.
The usual kickoff time and common schedule exceptions
For a typical Monday night game during the NFL regular season, plan around an 8:15 p.m. Eastern kickoff. That is the scheduled start of play, not necessarily the time the television program starts. Pregame coverage often begins earlier, and the exact program schedule depends on the broadcaster and the game.
Some Mondays have two games rather than one. Those games have separate kickoff slots, so checking only the date is not enough: confirm the teams and which game you mean. Opening-week schedules and other special arrangements may also differ from a standard Monday night.
A game can also start later than its listed kickoff because of a preceding broadcast, a delay, or an unusual event. For the planned time, use the official schedule. For the time the opening play happened, look at a game log, live report, or broadcast recording.
| What you are checking | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled kickoff | The listed time when play is expected to begin | Planning when to tune in |
| Broadcast start | When television or streaming coverage begins | Watching pregame analysis and introductions |
| Actual opening play | When the game begins after any delay | Checking the exact start of a past game |
| Game end | When the contest and any overtime are finished | Knowing when the broadcast may wrap up |
How to find the kickoff for a specific past game
A quick search often works, but match the result to the game carefully. Search results may show a kickoff in the event’s local time, a national time zone, or a different date if the game was played near midnight where you live.
- Identify the game. Note the teams, date, season, or NFL week. If you only know one team, check its schedule for Monday appearances.
- Search with identifying details. Try the team names plus the date or season and “kickoff time.” Including both teams reduces the chance of opening the wrong result.
- Check an authoritative schedule or recap. The NFL schedule, team schedule, or broadcaster listing can confirm the scheduled time. A recap can verify the matchup and final result.
- Check the time zone. Look for labels such as ET, CT, MT, or PT. If no zone appears, do not assume the displayed time is local.
- Separate the planned time from the actual start. A schedule gives the expected kickoff; a live play-by-play or broadcast record is more useful if a delay matters.
When using a search result, confirm the year as well as the date. Monday games recur every season, and a result from another year can appear relevant if the teams played each other more than once.
Convert Eastern Time to your local time
Most national listings give NFL kickoff times in Eastern Time. During the regular season, a standard 8:15 p.m. Eastern kickoff corresponds to 7:15 p.m. Central, 6:15 p.m. Mountain, and 5:15 p.m. Pacific in the contiguous United States.
Use a time-zone converter if you are outside those zones or checking a game near a daylight-saving change. Many regions change their clocks on different dates, and some places do not observe daylight saving time. A city-based converter can account for those differences more reliably than a mental calculation.
Pay attention to the date as well as the clock. A late game listed in Eastern Time may already be on the next calendar day in another part of the world. When a schedule gives a date and time, check whether it labels the time zone and whether the date is shown in the event location’s time.
For a practical check, enter the city where you plan to watch and the scheduled Eastern kickoff into a trusted converter. Avoid converting an unlabeled time; first confirm that the schedule actually lists Eastern Time.
Kickoff is not the same as the start of the broadcast
Television coverage commonly begins before the scheduled kickoff. The early portion may include studio discussion, injury updates, team news, player introductions, and analysis. That is why a television listing can show a start time earlier than the time shown on the NFL schedule.
If you want to watch the full buildup, use the broadcaster’s program listing and tune in before kickoff. If you only want the game action, look for the listed kickoff time. A streaming service may show a pregame program, a live channel feed, or a separate event page, so its displayed start time may not match the scheduled opening play.
There can also be a short gap between a broadcast’s advertised start and the game itself. The program may begin with coverage of another game or studio content. Check the event title and channel, not just the first time shown in a guide.
How long does Monday Night Football last?
The kickoff time tells you when the game is scheduled to begin, not when it will finish. A professional football game usually takes several hours to watch because the clock stops, teams use timeouts, and television coverage includes breaks. Overtime, reviews, injuries, and a close finish can extend the broadcast.
For planning, leave more than the game’s scheduled playing time. If you have an appointment or need to catch the final minutes, do not rely on a fixed end time. Check the live score or game clock as the evening progresses.
Also distinguish the end of play from the end of the program. Postgame interviews and analysis can continue after the final whistle, while a streaming replay may remain available after the live broadcast ends.
Why a search may show a different time
Conflicting times are often caused by different meanings, not incorrect information. One listing may show when a pregame program begins; another may show the scheduled kickoff. A third may convert the event into your local time automatically.
Other common causes include:
- Wrong season or matchup: Similar searches can surface a different game between the same teams.
- Different time zones: One source may use Eastern Time while another displays local time.
- Schedule changes: The original listing may not reflect a later adjustment.
- Delay on game night: The actual opening play may occur after the announced kickoff.
- Two games on the same Monday: A date alone may point to the wrong event.
When sources disagree, compare the date, teams, time zone, and whether each source means kickoff or program start. A schedule is the clearest source for the planned kickoff; a live account is better for confirming a delay.
What to check before you tune in
A short checklist can prevent missed opening minutes, especially if you are following a past game or watching from another time zone.
- Confirm the two teams and the season.
- Check whether the date has one Monday game or a doubleheader.
- Read the time-zone label instead of assuming the listing is local.
- Decide whether you want pregame coverage or only the game.
- Allow for possible delays and a broadcast that may run past the final play.
Useful tip: Save the event page or schedule entry for the exact matchup, rather than relying on a search snippet. Snippets can omit the year or time zone, and their displayed details can change as search results update.
Quick answers about Monday night kickoff times
Is Monday Night Football usually at 8:15 p.m.?
Yes. A standard regular-season game usually has an 8:15 p.m. Eastern kickoff. Special schedules and Mondays with multiple games can have other kickoff slots, so confirm the exact matchup.
Does the game start when the TV broadcast starts?
Not always. The broadcast may begin earlier for pregame coverage, while the scheduled kickoff is when play is expected to start. Check the event schedule if you want the actual game time.
How do I find the time of last night’s game?
Search the two teams and the date, or check the NFL or team schedule for that week. Verify the year and time zone, especially if the game took place close to midnight where you live.
Can the actual kickoff be later than the listed time?
Yes. A delay or broadcast-related change can push the start later than scheduled. The schedule gives the planned kickoff; live coverage or a game log can help confirm when the game actually began.
What information is needed to identify a particular game?
The date and year are usually enough, but the teams make the search more precise. If you do not know the date, provide at least one team and the season or approximate week.
For a standard Monday night game, the scheduled kickoff is usually 8:15 p.m. Eastern, but the exact time depends on the date and matchup. A broadcast may start earlier, and a delay can shift the actual opening play.
To pin down the game you mean, search the teams with the date or season, then confirm the time zone and whether the listing shows kickoff or pregame coverage. For what time was monday night football on a particular night, those details are the quickest route to a reliable answer.