Monday Night Football 2025: Schedule, How to Watch, History, and What to Expect This Season

For millions of NFL fans, there’s still nothing quite like Monday Night Football. The bright lights, the prime-time drama, the chance to close out the football weekend with one last blockbuster matchup – MNF remains appointment television more than five decades after its debut.

Whether you’re a die-hard fantasy football player making last-minute lineup decisions or just love the electric atmosphere of a standalone national game, Monday Night Football delivers every week.

What Is Monday Night Football?

Monday Night Football (often abbreviated as MNF) is the longest-running prime-time sports series in television history. Debuting on ABC in 1970, the package has aired on multiple networks over the years and currently splits games between ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+.

In 2025, ESPN/ABC continues its exclusive hold on the Monday night window, with select games also simulcast or exclusively streamed on ESPN+. Every regular-season MNF game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT), giving West Coast fans an earlier start than Sunday night games.

2025 Monday Night Football Schedule (Updated December 2025)

Here is the remaining 2025 Monday Night Football schedule:

• Week 14 (Dec 8) – Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
• Week 15 (Dec 15) – Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (also on ABC)
• Week 16 (Dec 22) – New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
• Week 17 (Dec 29) – Doubleheader ◦ 5:30 p.m. ET: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers ◦ 8:15 p.m. ET: Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders (simulcast on ABC)

There is no Monday Night Football game in Week 18 as the NFL returns to its traditional Saturday/Sunday finale.

How to Watch Monday Night Football in 2025

• Cable/Subscribers: ESPN (every game) + ABC (select simulcasts and doubleheaders)
• Streaming: ESPN+ (every game), NFL+ (mobile only), YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling Orange
• International: DAZN (Canada), Sky Sports (UK), ESPN International markets
• Radio: Westwood One national broadcast, plus local team stations

Pro tip: If you’re trying to watch Monday Night Football without cable, ESPN+ remains the most affordable legal option at $10.99/month or bundled with Disney+ and Hulu.

The Biggest Monday Night Football Legacy

Since Howard Cosell, “Dandy” Don Meredith, and Frank Gifford called the very first game (Cleveland Browns 31, New York Jets 21 on September 21, 1970), MNF has been cultural television.

Iconic moments include:

• The “Fail Mary” / “Immaculate Deception” (Seahawks vs. Packers, 2012)
• Antonio Freeman’s miraculous Monday night catch (2000)
• The 2006 Saints’ emotional return to the Superdome
• Bo Jackson’s four-touchdown destruction (1987)

The booth has seen legends: Al Michaels, John Madden, Dennis Miller, Tony Kornheiser, Jason Witten, and now Joe Buck and Troy Aikman with Lisa Salters.

Why Monday Night Football Still Matters in 2025

• Only one game (or two on doubleheader nights) – total focus
• Flex scheduling Weeks 12–17 keeps late-season games meaningful
• Consistently highest regular-season ratings outside playoffs
• Fantasy football and betting climax every week

Monday Night Football Records & Fun Facts

• Most appearances: Dallas Cowboys (86 entering 2025)
• Highest-rated game ever: Bears vs. Giants 1985 (25.6 rating)
• Biggest blowout: 49ers 55, Bears 10 (2019)
• Most combined points: 103 (Raiders 52, Chargers 51 OT – 1984)

5 Most Asked Monday Night Football FAQs (2025 Season)

1. What time does Monday Night Football start? All standard Monday Night Football games kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT. Doubleheader early games (like Week 17 2025) start at 5:30 p.m. ET.

2. Can I stream Monday Night Football for free? There is no completely free legal stream, but many services offer free trials (YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV). ESPN+ is the cheapest long-term option at $10.99/month.

3. Why is there no Monday Night Football in Week 18? The NFL moved all Week 18 games to Saturday and Sunday to maximize flexibility for playoff scenarios and avoid splitting the final weekend across three days.

4. Which announcers call Monday Night Football in 2025? The main ESPN crew is Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), and Lisa Salters (sideline). Select games on ABC use alternate booths (Chris Fowler/Kirk Herbstreit or Steve Levy/Louis Riddick).

5. Will there be a Monday Night Football game on Christmas 2025? No. Christmas Day 2025 falls on a Thursday, and the NFL scheduled two Wednesday afternoon games (Dec 25) that will stream exclusively on Netflix.