ESPN History

“Turn on the lights. . .” a look back at MNF’s start, 44 years ago this week

The New York Jets play host to the Chicago Bears tonight in ESPN’s Monday Night Football (8:30 p.m. ET).

Forty-four years ago yesterday, the Jets were the visitors in the very first regular-season MNF game in a matchup with the Cleveland Browns at Municipal Stadium. Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell called the Sept. 21, 1970 telecast on ABC.

(L-R) Analyst Howard Cosell, commentator Keith Jackson and analyst Don Meredith at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for the historic first Monday Night Football telecast on ABC.

(ABC Photo Archives)
(ABC Photo Archives)
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