Monday Night Football has opened its season on ESPN with a doubleheader. The traditional crew tends to handle the first game. Who the network picks for the second game has always been the source of speculation and news.
In 2019, ESPN’s season opening doubleheader starts with the Houston Texans’ visit to New Orleans. Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland will be in the booth for that game with Lisa Salters on the sideline. Steve Levy will call play-by-play of the second game, which features the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders. College football color analyst Brian Griese and former NFL executive Louis Riddick will join Levy in the booth with Laura Rutledge on the sidelines.
“To contribute to such an iconic brand and this broadcast in Oakland, alongside tremendous professionals like Steve, Brian and Laura, is a privilege,” said Riddick, who has been the subject of past speculation involving the Monday Night Football booth. “I am grateful for and could not be more fired up about the opportunity.”
Levy and Griese have worked together calling college football games since 2016. Levy says the duo is ready for primetime. “The phrase ‘a dream comes true’ gets thrown around quite often, but this is literally, exactly that for me. Everybody knows the TV stars that Louis and Laura are, and Brian and I feel like we have a pretty good thing going on Saturdays in the fall. I’m excited about putting that all together for one entertaining Monday Night in September.”
There will be familiar voices in Levy’s and Griese’s ears. Producer Josh Hoffman and director Matt Schwab, who both work with Levy and Griese every Saturday, will run the second Monday Night Football game’s production.