So, you're sitting there, wings ordered, remote in hand, wondering who plays on nfl monday night football tonight. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you're looking for an NFL game this evening, January 19, 2026, you're going to find a whole lot of nothing on the professional gridiron.
The NFL season has a rhythm that usually feels like clockwork. Mondays belong to the pros. But right now, we’ve hit that specific "dead zone" in the postseason calendar where the league takes a breather from the Monday night spotlight.
Where Did Monday Night Football Go?
Basically, the "Monday Night Football" branding officially wrapped up for the season exactly one week ago. On January 12, the Houston Texans traveled to Pittsburgh and absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6 in the Wild Card finale. It was a historic night for all the wrong reasons if you're a Yinzer—the Steelers’ legendary 23-game home winning streak on Monday nights finally went up in smoke.
That game was the grand finale for Monday football this season.
We are currently smack in the middle of the Divisional Round weekend. The league stacks these high-stakes games on Saturday and Sunday to maximize viewership and, honestly, to give the winning teams enough rest before the Conference Championships. This past Saturday (Jan 17), we saw the Broncos edge out the Bills and the Seahawks handle the 49ers. Just yesterday, the Patriots and Bears booked their tickets forward.
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Because of that Sunday schedule, playing tonight would mean a "short week" for a team trying to get to the Super Bowl. The NFL doesn't play that way in the deep playoffs.
The One Game That Is Actually On
Now, if you flip on ESPN tonight, you will see a football game. It just won’t be the NFL.
Tonight is the College Football Playoff National Championship. It’s the #1 Indiana Hoosiers taking on the #10 Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. It kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
For years, the college title game has essentially "borrowed" the Monday night slot from the NFL. It’s the only night of the year where the pros move aside to let the amateurs take the stage. It’s actually a pretty smart move—it avoids a ratings war and gives football fans one last Monday night fix before the long wait for the next season.
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Common Misconceptions About the Schedule
A lot of people think Monday Night Football runs all the way through the Super Bowl. I get why. The marketing is everywhere. But the reality is that the NFL's contract with ESPN/ABC for the Monday slot is primarily a regular-season deal, plus that one lone Wild Card game.
- Regular Season: 18 weeks of Monday night matchups.
- Wild Card Round: One game (the Monday finale).
- Divisional Round: Zero games.
- Championship Sunday: Only Sundays.
- Super Bowl LX: Sunday, Feb 8, 2026.
If you’re seeing "Monday Night Football" in your guide for later tonight, it’s likely a replay, a highlight show like NFL Primetime, or simply the pre-game coverage for the college championship.
When Does It Come Back?
If you're strictly an NFL fan and don't care about the college game, you're going to have to wait until September 2026 for the next true Monday Night Football broadcast. The 2026 schedule won't even be released until May, so we don't know who the kickoff matchup will be yet.
Last year’s opener was the Vikings and Bears, and it set a high bar. We can probably expect the league to put a heavy hitter like the Texans or the Chiefs in that Week 1 slot for next season, especially given how C.J. Stroud has been playing.
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What to Watch Instead
Since you’ve already got the couch cleared, here is what is actually happening in the sports world tonight while the NFL is dark:
- NCAAF National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami (7:30 PM ET on ESPN).
- NBA Action: The Detroit Pistons are taking on the Knicks, and the 76ers are in action as well.
- NHL: There are a handful of puck-drops if you prefer ice over turf.
The NFL will return this coming Sunday, January 25, for the AFC and NFC Championship games. That’s when the real hardware starts getting handed out.
Next Steps for the Fan:
If you want to stay ahead of the schedule for the rest of the playoffs, you should sync your calendar to the Championship Sunday times: the AFC Championship kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS, followed by the NFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.