ESPN announces first MNF assignment for Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit
By Keith Farner
Published:
ESPN’s new Monday Night Football broadcasting lineup now has game assignments connected with the commentators.
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN’s leading college football broadcasting team, will make their NFL debut when they call the first game of the season-opening MNF doubleheader, which features the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New York Giants at 7:15 p.m., ESPN announced.
It’s unclear if Fowler and Herbstreit could call a college game on Sept. 12 before the NFL opener.
Fowler and Herbstreit have worked together each college football season since 1996, beginning on College GameDay and then in the booth, beginning with Thursday Night Football and then reuniting for their current assignment, ABC’s Saturday Night Football, which they began together in 2014. They also call a College Football Playoff Semifinal and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
The main ESPN crew for Monday nights will be Steve Levy on play-by-play with Brian Griese and Louis Riddick. Reporter Lisa Salters and officiating analyst John Parry will join them on the call of Titans at Broncos in the nightcap on the opening week.
“Chris and Kirk are commentators at the top of their game and have thrilled college football fans for many years,” said Connor Schell, ESPN Executive Vice President, Content, in a release. “We are looking to add new opportunities to their expansive portfolios and are confident that NFL fans will be just as excited to hear one of the most prolific broadcasting duos on Monday Night Football.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
