Kicking Off the Week

Wesley Hyatt, a senior writer with MMI Public Relations, has also served as a television historian and consultant for several media sources. He is the author of several McFarland titles and lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Table of Contents



Acknowledgments     

Introduction     



1. The NFL Before Monday Night Football     

2. ABC Pre–Monday Night Football     

3. NFL and ABC Merge     

4. The Kickoff (1970–71)     

5. Gifford Arrives, and Monday Night Football Takes Off (1971–74)     

6. Meredith to Williamson to Karras to Meredith (1974–77)     

7. Changes Afoot (1977–82)     

8. Capital Messes (1982–87)     

9. Stability Leading to a Meltdown (1987–98)     

10. Mouse Attack (1998–2002)     

11. Leader of a Loser (2002–2005)     

12. 2005: Prepping the Final Curtain     



Appendix A: Monday Night Football Cast and Crew     

Appendix B: Monday Night Football Seasonal Ratings     

Sources     

Index