<P> After the final contract for Monday Night Football was signed, ABC Sports producer Roone Arledge immediately saw possibilities for the new program . Setting out to create an entertainment "spectacle" as much as a simple sports broadcast, Arledge hired Chet Forte, who would serve as director of the program for over 22 years . Arledge also ordered twice the usual number of cameras to cover the game, expanded the regular two - man broadcasting booth to three, and used extensive graphic design within the show as well as instant replay . </P> <P> Prior to 1978, Monday night games were not scheduled in the final week (Week 14) of the regular season . From 1974 to 1977, a Saturday night game was scheduled for Week 14 and televised live by ABC in lieu of a game on Monday night . </P> <P> Looking for a lightning rod to garner attention, Arledge hired controversial New York City sportscaster Howard Cosell as a commentator, along with veteran football play - by - play announcer Keith Jackson . Arledge had tried to lure Curt Gowdy and then Vin Scully to ABC for the MNF play - by - play role, but settled for Jackson after they proved unable to break their respective existing contracts with NBC Sports and the Los Angeles Dodgers . Jack Buck was also considered, but when Arledge assistant Chuck Howard telephoned Buck with the job offer, Buck refused to respond due to anger at his treatment by ABC during an earlier stint with the network . Arledge's original choice for the third member of the trio, Frank Gifford, was unavailable since he was still under contract to CBS Sports . However, Gifford suggested former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith, setting the stage for years of fireworks between the often - pompous Cosell and the laid - back Meredith . </P> <P> Monday Night Football first aired on ABC on September 21, 1970, with a game between the New York Jets and the Browns in Cleveland . Advertisers were charged US $65,000 per minute by ABC during the clash, a cost that proved to be a bargain when the contest collected 33% of the viewing audience . The Browns defeated the Jets, 31 - 21 in a game which featured a 94 - yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Browns' Homer Jones and was punctuated when Billy Andrews intercepted Joe Namath late in the fourth quarter and returned it 25 yards for the clinching touchdown . However, Cleveland viewers saw different programming on WEWS - TV, because of the NFL's blackout rules of the time (this would apply for all games through the end of the 1972 season; beginning in 1973, home games could be televised if tickets were sold out 72 hours before kickoff). </P>

Who announced the first monday night football game