A New Era for Monday Night Football
The 2026 NFL season will officially begin on Wednesday, September 9, when the Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a rematch of last year's Super Bowl.
That opening night sets the tone for a schedule that promises plenty of drama, highlighted by the first Monday Night Football game on Monday, September 14, featuring the Denver Broncos taking on the Kansas City Chiefs.
The game will air on both ESPN and ABC, and viewers can stream it through Fubo TV.
Patrick Mahomes, the three‑time Super Bowl champion and two‑time MVP, is slated to make his return in that Week 1 appearance after recovering from a torn ACL sustained in Week 15 of the 2025 season.
The Broncos capped the previous season with a 14‑3 record, dethroning the Chiefs after their nine‑year reign atop the AFC West, a shift that adds extra intrigue to the upcoming clash.
All Monday Night Football contests are set for a 7:15 p.m. Eastern start time, with the network promising a full slate of 17 such broadcasts throughout the year, the final one slated for January 4, 2027, when the Green Bay Packers will make their solitary appearance on the night.
With the league expanding its prime‑time offerings and streaming platforms like Fubo TV providing easy access, fans can expect a season that blends traditional rivalry with new viewing possibilities.