Imagine a significant shift in how Monday night football operates—this is precisely what the NFL is considering for its Wild Card games. Just 11 days ago, ESPN broadcasted the match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans, marking the end of a guaranteed arrangement for the network to air a Wild Card game during its traditional Monday night slot. This change comes on the heels of the conclusion of a five-year agreement that solidified ESPN's position for that specific time frame during the playoffs.
Although ESPN will still receive one Wild Card game each year under a new 10-year media rights deal with the league, the critical point is that this game might not necessarily take place on a Monday night. NFL executive Hans Schroeder discussed this potential shift during an appearance on SBJ’s The Sports Media Podcast. He indicated that the league could explore options to sell the coveted Monday night window to other broadcasters, which would result in ESPN possibly having to settle for a game on Saturday or Sunday instead.
"I’m sure we’ll talk to Disney and there will be other interested parties," Schroeder stated. "People recognize the value and appeal of that window. We believe this evolution has been beneficial, and we are eager to have discussions in the upcoming months about our partnerships regarding the Monday night slot."
This notable shift is tied to the NFL’s decision to expand its playoff format from 12 to 14 teams, leading to the introduction of two additional Wild Card games, with one now scheduled for Monday night. Under the current arrangement, all five of the NFL’s main broadcasting partners—ESPN/ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and Prime Video—are guaranteed one Wild Card game annually. However, this creates a situation where over the past five seasons, one network has consistently aired two games, leaving room for the NFL to potentially auction off that sixth Wild Card game to interested bidders. It's becoming increasingly likely that this particular Monday night game could be among those sold.
Schroeder elaborated on the advantages of airing games on Monday nights, noting, "The reality is that more viewers can tune in on Monday evenings compared to Saturday afternoons during that part of the season. Therefore, we believe it’s advantageous to position our games in time slots that attract larger audiences. This was the original idea behind this strategy, and it certainly adds a level of sophistication to include it within the ESPN Monday Night Football lineup."
The NFL has a knack for creating opportunities to offer select games to partners beyond its primary five networks. Recent examples include the partnership with Netflix for a Christmas game and arrangements with YouTube in Brazil earlier this season. As the NFL looks ahead to next year, there’s a chance that platforms like these may want a piece of the postseason action. Will they seize that opportunity? Only time will tell.
