The complete Monday Night Football Schedule for the 2024 NFL Season
In the world of American sports broadcasting, Monday Night Football stands out as a game-changer that shook up TV broadcasting and sports entertainment. A longtime dream of then-NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle and a creation of ABC sports bigwig Roone Arledge, MNF kicked off on September 21, 1970 and brought primetime football right into people's living rooms.
Today, it's a cultural institution. Looking back, however, it was a gutsy move, one that flipped the script on the traditional football schedule upheld by the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that kept the NFL from playing games on Friday or Saturday nights so as to protect high school and college football, respectively.
Arledge's brainchild took the excitement of professional football and married it with the allure of primetime television. By scheduling games on Monday nights, ABC aimed to snag a wider audience, including folks who might not normally tune in for sports on the weekends. This bold move threw a curveball at the standard sports broadcasting playbook, forever altering the way we watch sports.
The first-ever broadcast featured a showdown between the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets, setting the stage for decades of unforgettable moments and legendary performances. Epic rivalries have been elevated by the primetime options, and ever since the show debuted, NFL players have hungered to showcase their talents in front of a national primetime audience.
Let's not forget the other ways in which Monday Night Football has become an important part of our viewing experience. The memories of listening to Howard Cosell or Frank Gifford or Al Michaels are as meaningful as Hank Williams Jr.'s musical theme—both cultural reference points that feel as important as the game itself.
Today, Monday Night Football is still fulfilling its place on an NFL calendar that continues to expand its programming in new directions. It all began with that spark on Monday nights and will continue to showcase its importance through the 2024 NFL season.
Here's the complete Monday Night Football schedule for 2024:
- Week 1 - 9/9 - Jets @ 49ers
- Week 2 – 9/16 – Falcons @ Eagles
- Week 3 – 9/23 – Jaguars @ Bills
- Week 4 – 9/30 – Titans @ Dolphins
- Week 5 – 10/7 – Saints @ Chiefs
- Week 6 – 10/14 – Jets @ Bills
- Week 7 – 10/21 – Ravens @ Buccaneers
- Week 8 – 10/28 – Giants @ Steelers
- Week 9 – 11/4 - Buccaneers @ Chiefs
- Week 10 – 11/11 – Dolphins @ Rams
- Week 11 – 11/18 – Texans @ Cowboys
- Week 12 – 11/25 – Ravens @ Chargers
- Week 13 – 12/2 – Browns @ Broncos
- Week 14 – 12/9 – Bengals @ Cowboys
- Week 15 – 12/16 – Falcons @ Raiders
- Week 16 – 12/23 – Steelers @ Ravens
- Week 17 – 12/30 – Lions @ 49ers
- Week 18 - No MNF games
*All games at 8:15 p.m. E.T. / 7:15 p.m. C.T. on ESPN