Monday Night Madness: The Very Best of Monday Night Football (20 year anniversary)

[@theRappinSpree]

I still have this on VHS. Played it to death in the 90s :)

[@rulegm]

THANK YOU for posting this! I used to have this on VHS as a kid. It came in the mail when my dad had a Sports Illustrated subscription. I would watch this tape all the time. I can probably recite the entire thing word for word. This brings back so many great memories. Thank you again!

[@ramram349]

ABC's Monday Night Football was the best production of a live weekly event ever.

[@LogoMan7777]

That's why some of the MNF crew moved to Sunday Night Football.

[@farmasyst]

Monday Night Football was probably the greatest move the NFL made..the exposure that it brought to the hinterlands has never been matched by any other professional sports organization. Roone Arledge was a genius.

[@jackkitchen737]

@ 4:45.....I watched that play live as a 9 year old. My parents let me stay up to watch MNF as long as I could stay awake. And that game was a great game. Lots of action. Golden Richards was one of my favorite players, even though he returned a punt for a TD against my Vikings in the 1973 NFC Championship game.

[@shimmySchermerhorn-dk1gi]

1st game MNF on September 21, 1970. I was a sophomore high school football player. Only 49 years ago. Bought a new 13 " black and white antenna TV that summer to put above my desk area at home. Remember watching that game and the Country couldn't get enough of it.

[@orbyfan]

The telecast even included a Ford commercial with Rod Serling.

[@francinestroehmer2774]

You are right on.

[@IBCSRacingNetwork]

I used to have this movie on VHS and watched it at least a few times a week and haven't regretted a second of doing it so many cool football moments from when my parents and grandparents were young. I honestly dont know or remember what happened to my VHS tape of this went but thank you for putting this on KZbin for all of us football fans

[@victorramireziii6989]

My grandma bought me the vhs of this from Avon lol. She has since passed, but I still have the cassette 😊

[@scoobycarr5558]

There will never be another star announcing team like Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell. May God bless them all. Nobody even Al Michaels or Cris Collingsworth or Pat Summerall or John Madden can match the charisma that these guys had on ABC's Monday Night Football. Back when I was a kid and in school, my Mom and Dad would let me stay up to witness Howard Cosell do the highlights during halftime.

[@jeremythompson9122]

I can't stand Collinsworth. Madden and Summerall were a great broadcast team though

[@jasonpdsi]

Thank goodness for the internet, where you can watch many full classic Monday Night Football games.

[@rustykuntz94]

1989 (THE 20TH anniversary of MNF) was the first year they used the Hank Williams song & I def remember people being divided by it. Everyone loved the old school classic MNF intro music w Giffords narration over the 2 teams playing montage.

[@jamesanthony5681]

MNF was excellent entertainment when Frank joined Howard and Don in 1971. Frank replaced Keith Jackson who went back to do college football games in the fall of 1971. Frank, Howard and Don were fun. It was almost a party atmosphere some nights. They revolutionized Monday TV viewing habits. For me, Monday Night Football personalized the game. Up until 1970 - and believe me when I say this - there were maybe a half dozen to a dozen, perhaps, NFL players that a lot of fans would recognize -outside of their home teams - if they saw their face (e.g. Namath, Starr, Butkus, Sayers, Unitas, Karras, Brodie, Tarkenton - not very many more) . Starting with the 1st MNF game on Sept 21, 1970, they introduced the players on both sides - offense and defense - by showing their faces. That, more than anything else, resonated with me. That was the particular brilliance of Roone Arledge.

[@mariothomas31]

I remember when I was 8 years old and I saw Cap Boso catching the overtime pass from Jim Harbaugh when the my Bears was playing the Jets on Monday night. Great memories.

[@mukinmukin6352]

Couldn't have been. Harbaugh ran it in himself that night. Believe me I remember 😞 blair thomas fumble started it all

[@mikem591]

The greatest Monday Night performance was Campbell! Everything came together. Reminded me of 'Gladiator'...:)

[@mikehardister9186]

Will never forget the Bo Jackson long run against the Seahawks on MNF in '87 at the Kingdome i was around 13 years old at that time.

[@rustykuntz94]

Same game where he ran over Bosworth at the goal line too

[@brianstjohn]

@@rustykuntz94 As a kid who grew up in Norman, OK, that was BIG NEWS for us! I remember us talking about it for a few weeks.

[@generationless6942]

I was 23 and the only Raider fan in a bar full of Seachicken fans.

[@snakeoiler1292]

Monday Night on ABC was an American institution. Until greed and big money destroyed it. Like the rest of the NFL. All I watch now are these great memories.

[@senecanicholson1090]

The same here. I could watch the old games and highlights all day. From 1968-1989. MNF CLASSICS#

[@jeremythompson9122]

Absolutely. Back before it was all scripted for Brady and the Patriots to wind up in the Super Bowl every year. I seriously doubt if a single one of those Pats Super Bowl wins wasn't fixed. The Tuck Rule, Kasay's kick out of bounds, Andy Reid's clock management, Seattle passing from the 1 yard line, Matt Ryan taking that sack that knocked Atlanta out of FG range after the crazy Julio Jones catch, and the phantom roughing the passer call against KC in the 2018 AFC Championship. The NFL has become the WWF. NFL is gonna stand for NO FANS LEFT if it keeps up much longer. Goodell has completely ruined the league. I quit watching it for good in 2016

[@robertcherry1369]

Snake Oiler 12 all to true

[@nickydepaolaentertainment33]

Snake Oiler 12 Absolutely 🌈

[@nickydepaolaentertainment33]

Jeremy Thompson 🌈 ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE all you said ! I’m 57 now and DO REMEMBER ⭐️

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

I remember the Earl Campbell led Oilers vs Dolphins game.The crowd was loud! Steve Grogan is a very underrated QB. He used to give my Raiders fits. The Grogan led Pats were that team that knew how to play the Raiders. Raiders often won, but they were always nail-biters. They almost kept us out of SBXI, and did keep us out of the SB in’85 when the Pats got killed by the Bears. That should have been a Raiders vs Bears SB. That would have been a brutal SB.

[@jeremythompson9122]

I'm a Bills fan but SB20 would've been a much better game if Miami was in it. Marino vs. The 46 Defense would've been epic

[@generationless6942]

You can thank Marc Wilson with his 6 intros in the AFC playoff for that one. And the Raiders still almost won that game.

[@billmalone5050]

I grew up with Monday Night Football from age 8 as a 3rd grader in 1970 to age 18 as a freshman in college in 1980. It is hard to believe that Monday Night Football will be celebrating its 55th season in 2024.

[@cynic2all]

I remember Dorsett;s 99 yard TD run, but from the time saw it live and every time since, I haven't watched Dorsett as much as I watched Drew Pearson, who managed to keep 2 defenders away from him possibly without even touching them. Drew Pearson has done it to the Vikings again!

[@rbeforme]

Doesn't actually start until 3:30

[@mcgurkryans]

Missing Theismann's broken leg and while showing the Pats/Fins in 1980, totally bypassed the Lennon shooting announcement.

[@littlewing6231]

Yea both oversights were odd to say the least.

[@MainEventPoint]

Earl Campbell was a beast.

[@djquinn11]

The Oilers ruined his career rushing him 45 times a game. He’s crippled in a wheelchair now.

[@jerryjanik480]

Campbell was great but Bills fan OJ Simpson and Thurman Thomas was better

[@alanl1577]

@@jerryjanik480 Thurman Thomas was the most complete player of those 3, possibly of all time.

[@robertwayman2593]

lot of memories there period basically tells me how old I am

[@goldeneve]

36:36….1978 “greatest game mnf history 2018. “Greatest Game MNF History P2”

[@30RonJon]

Awesome video, thanks for posting

[@academyofshem]

4:35 I remember that game, because I was there. Sat in Club level, just a few rows past the press box where Cosell and the others were. Falcon's QB Gen. Bobby Lee scrambled and hit 44 with a touchdown pass, defeating the 9-0 Vikings. Tommy Nobis chased Fran Tarkington out of bounds to seal the win.

[@futureprimitivepast3044]

Thx for the post. Awesome video.

[@joegriego3091]

ESPN destroyed MNF

[@2cool4fluoride]

That and Sunday night football

[@williamdiemert9866]

I agree

[@pronkb000]

Flex scheduling is what destroyed MNF. It's easy to romanticize the good times but there were just too many crappy games involving predictably terrible teams. I remember a 9-7 fiasco between the 1-4 Cowboys and 1-4 Washington in 2001 that really started the fans and media pounding the drum for what we now know as flex-scheduling and the ability to adjust match-ups during the season. But logistically it's just too difficult to switch games from one day to another barring an emergency, so Sunday Night became the primary prime time package.

[@awildslapnuts513]

@@pronkb000 that has nothing to do with MNF ESPN ruined it there wher plenty of crappy games after the switch because everyone enjoyed a Seahawks and Cardinals 6-6 overtime tie. And the announcing McFarland does is painful to not ears but to my I.Q not mention the booger mobile was the worst. ESPN has a plethora of good solid broadcasters and color analysts that would be way better more insightful and entertaining to watch. The flex games are so the boring games happen less but NFL is in it to make money well because they're a business

[@russellmitchem5465]

raiders were kings of Monday football,displaying they're magical touch!

[@RalphReagan]

Until Jim Turner

[@GregJay]

The heroics of one 42 yr old George Blanda, he seemed to kick a late game field goal for the win almost every week. Daryl Lamonica QB before the snake.Warren Wells!

[@snakeoiler1292]

+RUSSELL MITCHEM Not anymore!

[@generationless6942]

I find it interesting the Raiders had the best MNF record in that 20 years, but how little (next to none) footage they showed. Wonder who the editor of this video favors?

[@brianstjohn]

"We want you to see Don Meredith as he used to be." 9:53 *shows clips of him getting pummeled*

[@oreosandoliveoil]

Lol Hank Williams jr still doing the Monday night football commercials 😂😂

[@gsldragon]

I bought the VHS at a flea market about 25 years ago, and still have it. I can't play it anymore because we now have just a DVD player.

[@tdrewman]

I lot of great moments, a lot of great players. I was watching this video at my friends house, his daughters, who knows I'm a huge football fan, asked how many of those games in the 80s did I watch. I told her a few, but until 89, I really didn't get to enjoy them as much, I had to get up in the morning for school. Now being older, I have to get up for work. I only really watch if my team is playing.

[@williamdiemert2116]

Put it's back on ABC T.V.

[@chrisshockey5845]

Bill Walsh did that with Guy Mcyntire before Ditka did it with the Fridge...

[@MrUnsolvedMystery]

Earl Campbell was great to watch and a legend! Remember those great Monday night football games!

[@hazelwood55]

Does anyone know if Alonzo Spellman's play for the Bears is on YT anywhere? Spellman got cut at the line of scrimmage, the play flowed away from him, he picked himself up, ran about 50 yds, spiked the ball free, recovered it and ran it back about 50 yards.

[@KChiefs12]

I’m still looking for the October 18, 1971 MNF game of Steelers at Chiefs.

[@johnshanahan681]

that run by Grogan at 15:38 was in 1976 not 1986...the jets had switched to the uniforms with "jets" on the side by then

[@BAYAREA-kd1ig]

CBS/FOX for a ABC MNF got it. Shame NBC wasn't involved as well.

[@goalscorerlajon]

That's Eddie Payton of the Lions. For those who don't know, that's Walter Payton's brother.

[@BreuckelensFinest]

David Lajon Eddie and Walter were the first two brothers to play an NFL game together.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Yes, and they estranged from each other. Very sad.

[@martyzimmerman4761]

Weird that the played for division rivals

[@oreosandoliveoil]

That was an amazing punt return we will never see that again

[@davidcobb2693]

That 1983 Marcus Allen 43 yard TD pass to Todd Christensen happened on a Thursday Night!

[@elinovak3770]

Wow real football here the golden years compare of today somebody kneeling or playing flag football with the starting quarterback

[@dustylover100]

I wish Monday Night Football was still on ABC.

[@williamdiemert9866]

Howard Cosell, Keith Jackson, Alex Karras, and Frank Gifford R.I.P

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@ 25:46 Classic Don Meredith. LOL

[@mcgurkryans]

18:27... this was the best sack they could find of LT??

[@StFidjnr]

4:52 I LOVE IT

[@JayRiemenschneider]

That Hank Williams Jr opening was the beginning of the end. They just HAD to fuck it up.

[@scoobycarr5558]

At 38:13 Bum Phillips is missing his signature cowboy hat! What was that all about?

[@pronkb000]

Bum, like Bear Bryant, didn't wear his hat indoors.

[@beaubear623]

So where was Frank Gifford hosting this from, Texas Stadium, the Metrodome? Wonderful video BTW.

[@jeremyweatherman]

That's the Metrodome interior. The final MNF game of their 20th season was played there; Christmas night of 1989. That was also the first regular season NFL game ever played on Christmas.

[@williejohnson9994]

10:58 Careful Don!!

[@SuperOmnicronsj44]

did you notice how 1970 moments attempted to be as technological as possible ... almost as if it was "mission control" and a moon launch? ...

[@bocagoodtimes1460]

Burt Reynolds! Classic

[@cameronhamilton7439]

Fascinating now to think back that O J Simpson was in the MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL booth 🎤

[@geraldcontreras9060]

The need to put it back on ABC and take it off cable tv, because it's not about the money it's about the game and most important the FANS!!!

[@danalong1237]

Yeah, with Bob Papa on play-by-play, Jerome Bettis and Eli Manning on color, John Parry as officiating expert, Samantha Ponder and Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sidelines, Wendi Nix as studio host and Tedy Bruschi, Matt Hasselbeck, Steve Young and Randy Moss as studio analysts!

[@wesleyantrim727]

CBS/FOX video providing highlights from ABC? lol huh?

[@CoreyT127]

All the players were intelligent and well spoken. 99% of them college graduates and most importantly MEN! REAL MEN.

[@ericcollins8794]

Terry bradshaw was intelligent?

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@ericcollins8794 Bradshaw did win 4 rings

[@generationless6942]

Yeah, college grads like Bradshaw that were illiterate!

[@pronkb000]

Dexter Manley was intelligent? Hollywood Henderson? Bubby Brister?

[@shawnyoung8752]

Earl Cambells run was great. 82 Chargers vs Bengals was a shootout. Set passing record. Wes Chandler with monster night. James Brooks draw play was one of best plays no one recalls. As a Bears fan Ditka would not let Mcmahon play in 1st half. Came in a 1st play hits gault for 70yd TD. 3 and out throws 45 yd for another td. 3rd drive another td. 8 playes 3 td passes. If not for Ditkas ego Bears should have won at least 1 more title. McMahon was alltime college passer coming out of BYU.

[@tomloft2000]

the original music was the best....by far.

[@StFidjnr]

23:30 the reason why the 1st face is lip syncing to Howard

[@marquesburgess4637]

Is there anyway possible you have the Oct 15, 2001 game on Monday NIght Football of the Cowboys Vs Redskins?

[@jamesvickers9476]

Lil Joe Washington who was playing with the Colts at the time...had the best one man performance in the hisory of MNF...he threw for a TD... ran for one... ran back a kickoff for one... an caught one to top it all off...no one did it better

[@cacornhusker2940]

nobody mentions Alex Karras was on MNF, he was hiarious and already an established actor.

[@leondraw1766]

I wanted to enjoy this but dang.

[@jewelz6028]

The Bo and Barry show, The Longest Game and Montanas return were my faves....#nflmadeformen

[@wiedep]

Next season 50 years!

[@cjpreach]

Begins at the 3:30 mark.

[@jamesvickers9476]

He was going to spike it...just popped out

[@strop9948]

awesome

[@orbyfan]

This shows highlights from Dec. 8, 1980, but doesn't mention what happened just prior to the end of regulation time, when Howard Cosell told millions of us that John Lennon had just been shot to death. The Miami-Houston game from 1978 was mentioned by Cosell in his book "I Never Played the Game" as one of their best telecasts, in no small part because Dandy Don wasn't there that night. The Vikings seem to be on the receiving end of more than their share of the most spectacular plays.

[@chtyan]

MNF when it was at its best! Better announcers, music whole nine yards!! Can't stand the intro music . ESPN has takin it it down hill.

[@ericradford2142]

Chtyan no kidding. This past year reminds me why.

[@electricianron_New_Jersey]

Earl Campbell is souper!

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

Earl Campbell vs. Herschel Walker vs. Bo Jackson all in their prime. Who's best?

[@ScorpioBornIn69]

Don't forget Walter Payton.

[@Suki-sv3wr]

Earl

[@depaola63]

BO !! The man ran a 4.29 /40 at 6'2 /233lbs !! UNREAL !! I am now 54 and saw them all from NCAA to NFL....*..Herschel was the best in NCAA in my opinion !! Earl had the BEST 1st 3 seasons in the NFL next to Eric Dickerson !! GREAT memories 4 sure!!

[@ecnumber1fan]

Both were great

[@houstonrebel4449]

Jim Brown 1st, Earl second. The rest you can put them anywhere you want to.

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

It seems to be an NFL overtime truism that it's best to kick the FG on 3rd down. That seems to be faulty reasoning as you hardly ever see a FG hold boffed and I've never seen a situation where it's 3rd down and the boff the snap and fall on the ball for a second chance. Well, at any rate, those days seem to be of yesteryear because with the OT rules now it seems most teams will try for the TD.

[@pronkb000]

I've seen it happen once in the NFL and once in college. There was a Steelers-Browns game in the early 2000s where the Browns blocked a FG, but the Steelers recovered it behind the line of scrimmage so they got another try, which they hit. The same thing happened in a college game between Iowa and Northern Iowa maybe 5-10 years ago, except this time Iowa blocked the second attempt as well.

[@ClaytonHurdle]

8:36 before any actual content.

[@StFidjnr]

20:20 oh no

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Before PC took over this sad world and females were put on the sidelines and skirts opening MNF, players wearing pink...listen to that opening song...it was ALL football!

[@tommythomason6187]

Twelve minutes of watching and 90% of it all commercials and hype - no real football at all.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Back before the NFL became the WWF and started scripting games. About 2001 is when the NFL really started going down the shitter...specifically the Tuck Rule game. And it's all been mostly fake ever since. Once the refs start determining the outcomes of Championship games its time to quit watching it.

[@barbaradarnell.3802]

If the nfl thought we actually believed the tuck rule game was legit,what else would they think we would believe?

[@MDJ-wb1pn]

Greatest game ever

[@patrickramirez8433]

Al. Frank and. Dan. The. Best. Trio. Frank. Howard and. Dandy. The second best trip. That's my vote anyways

[@1or2there]

All of a sudn they hav 1 team werng solid colrs as if the teams r going thru an identity crisis . . .

[@4swordkeeper]

It's funny how they show the Browns ever so often but almost never have them play.. guessing 10 Monday night games in 25 years.. This must be where the billionaires favorite teams play..

[@pronkb000]

The Modell-era Browns had 22 MNF appearances from 1970-1995, with 2 scheduled appearances wiped out by the '82 and '87 strikes, plus 4 appearances in the mid-'80s when ABC and the MNF crew would do Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night broadcasts.

[@4swordkeeper]

@@pronkb000 guess that averages out to less than 1 a year.. How many times a year are the Steelers and cowboys on? Maybe 3 times a year each? That's about 75 times each.. The Browns are just not on the agenda to be promoted.. I know I know... It's not smart to promote bad teams.. But the browns had some good teams in some of those years.. It would be hard to find teams that played less on Monday night than the browns... Truth is the NFL doesn't consider Cleveland sexy enough for the league image.. Even Howard Cosell said "who wants to watch Cleveland anyway? " Buckeyes don't want to play this year either.. Get rid of both and start an Ohio football League... With all the players who can't play because of covid crap around the USA start a league of Ohio Valley teams.. Cleveland Rockers Pittsburgh Forge Akron Tar Columbus Crush Cincinnati Sweep Canton Bulldogs Youngstown Gamblers Detroit Freeze Toledo Ballers Indianapolis Railers ....... I'd watch these teams and forget about the rigged NFL and college sports.. Vegas has gotten all the games fixed with their gambling... No way Ohio State looses to Clemson.. Anyone can see the fix is in...

[@pronkb000]

The Steelers had 38 MNF appearances in the same 1970-95 timespan, plus 5 non-Monday, prime time ABC appearances, with 1 scheduled game wiped out by the '82 strike. When you consider how good the Steelers were in the '70s and how the Browns didn't really become a contender again until the rise of the Kardiac Kids, that difference isn't really that high. In the late '80s and early '90s when the teams were roughly even, both appeared once or twice a year.

[@michaelbavaro8015]

Mark bavaro vs the 49ers

[@tonyeason7900]

TD run by Grogan wasn’t 1986!!! Pats wearing 1983 uniforms (at the latest) and Jets wearing 1978 uniforms (at the earliest!) Jeez!!!

[@DinoD10520]

It was in 1976

[@rhyancoleman6462]

11:07

[@petebentley3156]

I mean back then you just had to love to watch earl Campbell run the ball,he didn't run around guys he just plan ran over them I mean he was nothing about a big brut.thank god earl is still with us and ok still to this day!!!!!

[@jerryjanik480]

OJ Simpson was a beast on the field I always thought Frank Gifford would have killed his wife

[@shawnyoung8752]

You only could see your team and maybe one other game at that time. MNF gave the whole country and more important the players a national game.

[@mcgurkryans]

Did Steve Grogan's mother work at ABC? Never has a no-nothing QB gotten more of the spotlight.

[@d0nKsTaH]

Tony Romo enters the chat. At least Grogan actually reached a Super Bowl >^

[@StFidjnr]

23:12 lip syncing... MNF STYLE

[@goldeneve]

StFidjnr R.I.P. Burt

[@lenblack1462]

"Here it's gonna stay". Nope.

[@oreosandoliveoil]

Go Chiefs!! 🤟🏽

[@francinestroehmer2774]

The 2000's are a pile of shit for any sport!!

[@luismontes4273]

Dallas Cowboys

[@selfhelp69]

Dan Dierdorf the worst......

[@selfhelp69]

dandy don.