There are two Monday Night Football games because of the NFL’s new broadcasting agreement signed in 2021 with ESPN and ABC (both owned by Disney). This deal increased the number of Monday Night Football games per season from 17 to 23, requiring the NFL to schedule multiple doubleheaders in some weeks. These doubleheader nights feature two games spaced out to cater to different time zones and maximize viewership. The first of four such doubleheaders in the 2025 season is happening this week, with one game starting at 7 p.m. ET and the second at 10 p.m. ET, showcasing four teams instead of two on Monday night. This arrangement also helps utilize the increased game inventory while spreading the action to fit into an 18-week regular season, and sometimes there are even simultaneous "split doubleheaders" on ESPN and ABC in later weeks.
