Overview
- Monday night’s two-game slate is the last concurrent ‘MNF’ broadcast of 2025 and the final doubleheader this season, with staggered kickoffs in Detroit and Seattle.
- In August, Disney and the NFL agreed in principle to shift NFL Network and RedZone distribution to ESPN in exchange for the league receiving a 10% equity stake in ESPN valued at about $2 billion.
- An ESPN spokesperson says the proposed setup guarantees 28 stand-alone TV windows, including single ‘MNF’ games in Weeks 1–17, a Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, and two playoff games.
- The deal requires federal approval, and sources indicate it likely must be finalized by spring to be reflected in the 2026 schedule; if delayed, ESPN would keep its 25-game slate and likely use doubleheaders for one more year.
- NFL Media head Hans Schroeder said concurrent Monday games have not “delivered yet,” and viewership data show most overlap nights trail last season’s 15 million ESPN ‘MNF’ average.