It appears ESPN’s “Monday Night Football’ will see a complete overhaul in the broadcast booth for the 2018 NFL season.
Jon Gruden was the first chip to fall when he became the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders in early January after a decade-long absence from the sidelines. Now, it appears Gruden’s former “MNF” partner will be leaving the program as well.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch revealed Friday night that Sean McDonough took on a new role with ESPN, which does not include play-by-play for “Monday Night Football” broadcasts.
Sports Illustrated can report that Sean McDonough has mutually agreed to return to college football for ESPN later this year. He will no longer call Monday Night Football.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 10, 2018
Sean McDonough's new assignments include: CFB games weekly, as well as a College Football Playoff Semifinal. He will call the CFP National Championship on ESPN Radio, marquee college basketball, The Masters Par 3 contest, and more.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) March 10, 2018
Coinciding with Deitsch’s report, the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand followed up with news that ESPN decided to stay in-house for McDonough’s replacement.
Joe Tessitore is the new MNF play-by-player.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 10, 2018
ESPN has not announced Tessitore, but The Post has learned he will be the new voice of MNF.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 10, 2018
Tessitore has been with ESPN since 2002 and primarily has provided play-by-play for college football broadcasts. He reportedly will become just the sixth person to serve as the play-by-play for “MNF,” following in the footsteps of Keith Jackson, Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, Mike Tirico and McDonough.
Who will be Tessitore’s partner? Well, it appears Peyton Manning is out of the running. Marchand reported Friday that if the future Hall of Fame quarterback does become an NFL TV analyst, it will be for FOX’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcast and not ESPN’s “MNF.”
