Monday Night Football made its debut on ABC September 21, 1970. The NFL became the first professional sports league in the United States to have a regular series of nationally televised games in prime-time. Tonight the Colts and Dolphins play on the 39th anniversary of the NFL on Monday Night Football.
The first Monday Night Football game was aired on ABC on September 21, 1970 between the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland. The Browns won 31-21.
Teams are selected for Monday Night Football games based partially on their success during the previous season, rewarding the best teams and biggest stars. Teams with large national fan bases such as the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers among others, usually appear on Monday Night Football as well regardless of their previous season's record. Teams can make a maximum of three Monday night appearances per season.
ABC carried the Monday Night Football games from 1970 until 2005. ESPN has been broadcasting the popular Monday night games since the 2006 season. Both ABC and ESPN are owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Sportscasters Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson and Don Meredith were the pioneers behind the mics when Monday Night Football started on September 21, 1970. Cosell's famous voice and favorite line, "I'm just telling it like it is" is a memorable part of NFL football history.
As much as the teams make the games great, the slogans used throughout the history of Monday Night Football are well known to die-hard fans:
* Is it Monday Yet?
* Are you ready for some football?
* "I'm thinkin' about Monday"
* I'm ready for some football. Are you?
* "Monday can't come soon enough"
The tradition of Monday Night Football remains in households across the country 39 years after the first game. Tonight the Colts play against the Dolphins on a somewhat historical night in NFL history.
Written by Cheryl Phillips
Providence, RI
Exclusive to HULIQ.com
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