According to a report from Jim Miller, ESPN has decided on the two announcer’s booths for the opening night of Monday Night Football:
Hearing: New @NFL_MNF booth: @espnSteveLevy @briangriese @LRiddickESPN 2nd game @steelers vs. @Giants @cbfowler @KirkHerbstreit (If college football season is cancelled, this could change)
— james andrew miller (@JimMiller) July 31, 2020
When it was announced that the network would be moving away from Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland, fans and analysts alike began to speculate who would take their places. Many looked to Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, who do a tremendous job calling college games for ESPN/ABC. As Miller reported, those two are expected to be paired up for the first game of the night, the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the New York Giants. (Miller later clarified that with a follow-up tweet):
*.@Giants vs. @steelers is first game with @cbfowler &. @KirkHerbstreit
— james andrew miller (@JimMiller) July 31, 2020
Then in the second game, Steve Levy would be on the call with former quarterback Brian Griese and former defensive back/general manager Louis Riddick alongside him. Riddick has also been a name mentioned anytime a vacancy is announced, whether in the broadcast booth or as a potential GM. His knowledge of the game is vast and he brings tremendous insight now in his role with the network.
As with everything in 2020, this could still change depending on continued fallout from COVID-19. As Miller noted, with the college football season in jeopardy Fowler and Herbstreit could find themselves with more time on their hands if we do not see the college game in the fall. That could impact the final booth for the rest of the Monday Night slate. For now, fans can be excited about these two groups that will be calling the games on the first Monday night of the season.