The curtain rose on the 2026 NFL preseason with a dramatic encounter at the Hall of Fame Game. Rookie quarterback Haynes King proved his mettle by sprinting into the end zone on a remarkable five-yard touchdown run just as the clock hit zero. This last-minute score sealed a nail-biting 33-30 victory for the Carolina Panthers over the Arizona Cardinals.
Making his own preseason debut for the Cardinals, Carson Beck, Arizona’s third-round draft choice, showcased his talent by completing 15 of 19 passes, accumulating 188 yards and scoring a touchdown. Meanwhile, Kedon Slovis impressed with an almost perfect performance, finishing with 9 completions out of 10 attempts, amassing 106 yards and a touchdown as well.
As preseason football action kicks into high gear, fans are buzzing with anticipation for the start of Monday Night Football. The schedule heats up on Thursday with a lineup of six games, including significant matchups aired on the NFL Network. Fans can tune in to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Green Bay Packers, while the Tennessee Titans travel to challenge the San Francisco 49ers. Naturally, this stirs the inevitable question: when will MNF make its return?
Are you eagerly checking your calendar for Monday Night Football? Wondering when MNF is set to kick off? Here’s all the essential information you’ll need.
Is Monday Night Football On Tonight (August 10)?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for the excitement of NFL Monday Night Football—there is no game scheduled for tonight.
What’s The Preseason Football Schedule For The Week?
Preseason NFL action continues on Thursday, August 13 with six games, three of which will be available on ESPN Unlimited or NFL Network:
- Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network)
Live out-of-market preseason games are available to watch on your TV, PC, phone, or tablet on NFL+. The streamer is available for as low as $39.99/year or $6.99/month.
There are three games on tap for Friday, August 14, with the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Denver Broncos (7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers going on the road to battle the New York Jets (7:00 p.m. ET on NFL Network). Seven preseason games will take place on Saturday, August 15, but there won’t be any games on Sunday,
A full preseason schedule can be found on the NFL website.
When Does Monday Night Football Start?
Unfortunately, there are no Monday Night Football games scheduled for the 2026 preseason.
Regular season MNF action begins on September 14 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos. All the fun starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, and NFL+.
NFL Preseason Schedule For ESPN, FOX, and CBS:
- ESPN (Thursday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET): Las Vegas Raiders @ Houston Texans
Monday Night Football 2026 Schedule:
Monday Night Football will air on ESPN and ABC throughout the season. You’ll also be able to stream live MNF games from your phone or tablet with a subscription to NFL+.
- Week 1 (September 14): Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC)
How To Watch Monday Night Football In 2026:
If you have a valid cable login, you can watch MNF live on ESPN, ABC, the ESPN website/app, or ABC.com.
The only way to watch shows airing live without cable is by using a live TV streaming service. Our favorite is DIRECTV, which comes with a five-day free trial before payment begins.
DIRECTV offers a number of flexible subscription options, including Genre Packs, so you can best choose which streaming plans fit your needs and budget. Packs start at $19.99/month.
You can also stream Monday Night Football live with an active subscription to Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, NFL+, or Sling TV. Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV all offer free trials for new subscribers.
Monday Night Football returns on September 14 when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos on ESPN and ABC.