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ESPN’s Monday Night Football gave a new twist to a nostalgic hit on Monday night (Sept. 18) when the broadcast opened with a new music video featuring Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana Phil Collins’ classic “In the Air Tonight.” “reinterpret.”
The clip led to ESPN’s broadcast of the New Orleans Saints-Carolina Panthers game at 7:15 p.m. ET and ABC’s broadcast of the Cleveland Browns-Pittsburgh Steelers game at 8:15 p.m. ET. It will now continue for all Monday Night Football games as well as ESPN’s Week 18 Saturday doubleheader, Super Wild Card and its first divisional playoff game, according to a press release.
“It was fascinating to me to see how a song can empower you to kick your ass,” the Steelers’ Hines Ward said in an ESPN piece about the song, before the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin added: It doesn’t matter if you’re the home team or the away team, you’ll hear this song no matter what [before the game].”
“In the Air Tonight” first appeared on Collins’ 1981 debut solo album Face Value. Released as a single, it reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rock ballad stayed on the Hot 100 for six weeks in the fall of 1984 after it was featured on the NBC series Miami Vice. The song was later used on the Miami Vice soundtrack, which topped the Billboard 200 for 11 weeks in 1985–86.
The new take on “In the Air Tonight” isn’t the only musical moment this season. As previously announced, ESPN has partnered with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake to curate music for select Monday Night Football games during the 2023-24 NFL season. The superstar duo’s curated music will be featured in Monday Night Football commercials, live broadcasts and pre-game shows for seven weeks this season.
Check out the new intro below: