The voice of football: Ranking every 'Monday Night Football' announcer over 46 years

When ESPN's celebrated "MNF's" 45th anniversary last year, they tweeted a montage of MNF broadcasters John Madden to Jon Gruden who'd served in the broadcast booth. Guess who was MIA? That's right it was current Nevada prison inmate OJ Simpson, who worked with Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Joe Namath from 1983-1985. The Juice was smarmy and insincere in his MNF stint. A decade later, he  was charged with brutally murdering ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman only to be acquitted in the Trial of the Century. Trivia question: Did you know OJ was part of the crew that called Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins's upset of the undefeated Chicago Bears in 1985? It's true. Fast forward to the 4 minute mark to watch The Juice in his MNF glory.

 

ABC Sports' ill-fated attempt to shoehorn the former Detroit Lions defensive tackle into the MNF booth from 1975-1976 was a miserable flop. Unfortunately, the late Karras couldn't punch out a horse as he did as "Mongo" in Mel Brooks' hit comedy, "Blazing Saddles." His negative MNF experience led Karras to write a thinly-veiled Roman a clef called "Tuesday Night Football." Went on to co-star in the hit TV show, "Webster," with second wife Susan Clark. Karras sued the NFL over his head injuries before passing at age 77 in 2012. Here's Karras in his yellow MNF blazer with Howard Cosell.

 

As MNF celebrated its 30th season on the air, producer Don Ohlmeyer tried to break a five-year ratings decline by bringing in stand-up comic Dennis Miller. It was a noble but colossal failure. Miller is hilarious on stage with his lightning-fast one-liners. But he was a bad fit on-air with Al Michaels and Dan Fouts (who didn't seem to get his jokes). Most importantly, Miller fell flat with MNF viewers who were there to watch football, not "Saturday Night Live." Yes, there were some good one-liners like, "Nervous? He's tighter than Pat Buchanan's sphincter muscle at a 4th of July soiree on Fire Island." But Miller didn't fit. Apart from bringing in Tony Kornheiser, ESPN/ABC has never taken anything close to a Miller-like gamble since. Here's Miller commenting on a phenomenal TD catch by Antonio Freeman of the Green Bay Packers with Michaels and Fouts:

Fred Williamson had the unfortunate job of trying to replace "Dandy" Don Meredith at a time when the back and forth jabs between Meredith and Howard Cosell had turned the "MNF" announce crew into a phenomenon that was, in Cosell's words, bigger than the games they were covering. The ex-Kansas City Chief defensive back probably wished he was back on the field at Super Bowl I, where he was knocked out cold by a Green Bay Packers power sweep. The typically cocksure Williamson was uncertain and reticent in the booth -- and had zero chemistry with Cosell and Gifford. He lasted less than a season before he was replaced by the equally inept Alex Karras. But The Hammer went on to a workmanlike career in Hollywood, where he starred in one of George Clooney's few good films, "From Dusk till Dawn," in 1996.

Everything seemed set up for Frank Tarkenton to succeed on TV. Although he was 0-3 in Super Bowls with the Minnesota Vikings, Fran the Scram held most of the NFL passing records when he retired to go into TV. Alas, Tarkenton was drowned out in the crossfire between Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford and prodigal son Don Meredith, who had returned from a sojourn with NBC Sports. Don't weep for Tarkenton. He pivoted into the burgeoning field of computers/software and made a bundle. It's tough to get rid of that "MNF" bug. As recently as 2013, he was shooting NFL game previews on his FranTarkenton.com web site. Shine on you crazy diamond.

Adding Kornheiser, the ex-Washington Post sports columnist and co-host of "Pardon the Interruption" was a risky move by ESPN, and it it blew up in their faces. The Worldwide Leader in Sports hasn't taken a chance like it since. Kornheiser and fellow analyst Joe Theismann hated each other's guts, and it showed on the air. ESPN fired Theismann and gave Kornheiser Ron Jaworski. But that didn't work out either. He was fired in favor of incumbent game analyst Jon Gruden. Bill Simmons later accused "MNF" play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico of "undermining" Kornheiser in James Andrew Miller best-selling book, "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN."  Said Simmons in the book: "Tirico doesn't sell Tony for three f#@+ing years, then has the gall to say nice things about him after Tony leaves? Come on."

Namath's New York Jets played in the first "Monday Night Football" game against the Cleveland Browns in 1970. But it was all downhill from there for "Broadway Joe." Namath was fired after only one season on the air, allegedly for unprofessional conduct. Word on the street at the time was that Namath was telling folks in the industry that Frank Gifford was mistake-prone -- and that ABC's "MNF" production was "boring." During a Saturday Night Game in 2003, a drunken Namath made an ass of himself on live TV by telling one-time "MNF" sideline reporter Suzy Kolber he wanted to "kiss" her and that he "couldn't care less" if the Jets were struggling or not. Call it the curse of "MNF." Here's Joe Willie with Frank Gifford and OJ Simpson in the game intro for the Miami Dolphins' famous "MNF" upset of the unbeaten Chicago Bears in 1985.

 

Theismann's NFL playing career with the Redskins ended when Lawrence Taylor of the Giants gruesomely snapped his leg on live TV during a "MNF" broadcast in 1985. The combination of Theismann, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Tirico was a hot mess during the first season ESPN took over "MNF" from sister network ABC. Theismann seemed to resent the presence of a sportswriter like Kornheiser in the broadcast booth with a Super Bowl-winning QB like himself. His attitude bled into the coverage. In a shock to Theismann, ESPN brass dumped him rather than Kornheiser, replacing him with Ron Jaworksi. ABC comedian Jimmy Kimmel joked during a visit to the "MNF" both that Kornheiser got Theismann fired. “I’d also like to welcome Joe Theismann, watching from his living room with steam coming from his ears," cracked Kimmel.

Jaworski's ultimate failure on "MNF" should be a cautionary tale. Nobody's knows X's and O's better than Jaws. The low-maintenance Philadelphia Eagles QB replaced an unpopular analyst in Theismann. He got along better with Tony Kornheiser than Theismann. And yet Jaworski floundered. He never told viewers what he really thought. Instead he created faux match-ups and storylines in his own mind, then pushed them on doubtful viewers. When the more charismatic Jon Gruden replaced Kornheiser in the booth in 2009, Jaws became the odd man out. A 2011 Gruden profile in "The New Yorker" quoting Jaws trying to "sell" some unpopular game theory finished him off. ESPN dropped Jaworski in favor of a two-person booth of Gruden and Tirico in 2012. When I asked ESPN this week if they plan to stay with a two-person booth of Sean McDonough and Gruden, rather than a three-person booth, the answer was an emphatic yes. Here's Jaws cursing live during an "MNF" broadcast in 2011:

 

Dierdorf posted a solid 12-season run on "MNF," working mostly with Frank Gifford and Al Michaels. Along with Merlin Olsen, Dierdorf was one of the first former NFL linemen to make it big on TV. He's since been followed by Mike Golic, Randy Cross and many others. The former All-Pro for the St. Louis Cardinals was pretty good in his early years on "MNF." He was smart, plugged-in and funny. But Dierdorf became more pompous and overbearing as the years wore on. He announced his opinions as if they were immutable facts. If viewers didn't agree with him, they were probably idiots. "MNF" dropped Dierdorf in 1999, opting for a two-person booth of Al Michaels and Boomer Esiason. Dierdorf continued his career at CBS. He retired in 2014 as one of the longest-tenured analysts on sports TV. Here's a Dierdorf, Gifford and Michaels talking about a rocket-armed young Denver Broncos QB named John Elway on "MNF" in 1989:

Fouts was very good during his short career on "MNF." The problem is the former NFL MVP's TV skills were overshadowed by sharing the booth with standup comedian Dennis Miller. Brought in to be the football guru to Miller's wild and crazy guy, Fouts delivered the goods. But all the buzz and attention went to Miller. When ABC got the chance to hire John Madden in 2002, they jumped at it. And both Fouts and Miller were history, leaving all-world play-by-play announcer Al Michaels to team up with Madden. During a radio interview, Miller said he called Fouts as soon as he heard Madden wanted the gig and declared, "We're gone." Fouts went on to CBS Sports, where he's shown his talent as a broadcaster. He and partner Ian Eagle have risen to the No. 2 NFL announce team at CBS, behind Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. Some media observers think they should be No. 1.

What might have been. Esiason's energy and opinions gave "MNF" a shot in the arm when he formed a three-man booth with Al Michaels and Dan Dierdorf. But reported fighting and behind-the-scenes backstabbing made this one of the most soap-opera like trios in "MNF" history. When Esiason was fired by "MNF" in 2000, he publicly blamed Michaels. "This is the happiest he's been for a long time because he's a one-man booth,'' Esiason told the New York Times. ''Al is propped up as the star and wants to do things his way.'' Michaels has always denied putting a shiv into Esiason. The ex-NFL MVP has rebounded nicely. For my money, Esiason is the best, most fearless analyst on CBS Sports "The NFL Today" pre-game show. He has a long-running hit radio show in New York with partner Craig Carton. But the Esiason vs. Michaels feud will never be settled. Still, it's nice to think about what Esiason could have accomplished if he was given a real shot at "MNF."

Yes. Believe it or not, the longtime voice of college football was actually the first play-by-play announcer in the history of "MNF." It was Jackson, not Frank Gifford, who called "MNF's first season in 1970 with Howard Cosell and Dandy Don Meredith. The trio became so popular that Cosell bragged that they had become bigger than the game. Jackson exhibited the patience of Job when a drunken Cosell nearly set his pants on fire with his cigar while throwing up on Meredith's cowboy boots. "He had the cigar, all that vodka," Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. "I almost threw him out of the booth myself." Alas, Jackson lasted only season on "MNF." Gifford took over in 1971. And Jackson went on to become the voice of college football. Still, it's temping to think what would have happened if Jackson, not Gifford, became the No. 1 play-by-play announcer on MNF. Here's video of Jackson doing what he did best. Whoah, Nellie!

Gruden is not everybody's cup of tea. But give Chucky the credit he deserves for bringing pure football back to the "MNF" booth. After years of comedians (Dennis Miller), newspaper columnists (Tony Kornheiser) and feuding booth mates (Boomer Esiason vs Al Michaels; Tony Kornheiser vs. Joe Theismann and Mike Tirico), Gruden has put the emphasis back where it belongs: on the game itself. He analyzes the game with the intelligence of the Super Bowl winning coach that he is. But he also brings the enthusiasm of a football fan who can't get enough of the gridiron. His preparation is legendary. He and the departing Tirico have good chemistry. The duo has virtually buried the three-person booth that used to be a staple of "MNF." Could he go back to coaching? Sure. But ESPN has made him its highest-paid employee at $6.5 million a year, according to James Andrew Miller, author of "Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN." We'll see what kind of chemistry he has with incoming play-by-play caller Sean McDonough. Here's Gruden's introductory video with ESPN. Yep, that's Mike Greenberg on the "SportsCenter" desk:

Tirico had it hard but made it look easy during his 10 seasons on "MNF." First he had to quarterback the dysfunctional three-person booth of himself, "MNF" newcomer Tony Kornheiser of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and an overbearing Joe Theismann during ESPN's first "MNF" season in 2006. When ESPN dumped Theismann in favor of Ron Jaworski, Tirico got stuck with another problem. The bloviating Jaws bombed and was replaced by Jon Gruden. Since teaming up with Chucky, "MNF" has been smooth sailing for Tirico. The switch to a two-person from a three-person booth was a big help. Now Tirico is joining NBC Sports, where he'll continue to call NFL games on the network's new "Thursday Night Football" package. But he'll go down in Bristol history books as the network's first MNF play-by-play announcer.

The perfect antidote to the egotistical, intellectual Cosell, "Dandy Don" was fun, down to earth and never took the game or himself too seriously. Served two separate stints on "MNF," which missed him badly when he left. Don't kid yourself that the former Dallas Cowboys QB was just a clown. Meredith knew how to explain the game of football. He knew how to entertain viewers during dog games, something today's stat-happy analysts could learn a lesson from. Who can forget Meredith warbling, "Turn out the lights, the Party's Over" during blowouts. Meredith knew how to retire too. He didn't hang around attending the opening of an envelope to stay in the limelight. He took his money, his cowboy outfits and his unforgettable style and just faded away. "MNF" has spent decades trying to recreate the magic of Gifford, Cosell and Dandy Don.

 

The late, great Gifford was the perfect straight man for the obnoxiously entertaining Howard Cosell and folksy "Dandy" Don Meredith. He presided over the golden era of "MNF," when the show became the biggest thing on the air and celebrities like the late John Lennon flocked to the broadcast booth. Once he turned over play-by-play duties to Al Michaels in 1986, Gifford continued as a game analyst/host through 1997, compiling an amazing 27-year run in the "MNF" booth. Cosell considered him a charter member of the "jockocracy:" pampered former players who get TV jobs that should go to more deserving broadcasters. But Gifford endured and became a "MNF" legend. He was there for many of "MNF" most famous moments, like the Miami Dolphins' upset over the Super Bowl-bound Chicago Bears in 1985. Here's Gifford teeing up that memorable game in 1985. Yes, that is Joe Namath and OJ Simpson, alongside the Giff.

 

The gold standard of all "MNF" play-by-play announcers, Michaels was behind the microphone from 1986 to 2005. The voice behind the famous "Do you believe in miracles?" call at 1980 Winter Olympics had to deal with a rotating array of game analysts alongside him in the broadcast booth, including Boomer Esiason, Dan Dierdorf and stand-up comedian Dennis Miller. There were bumps in the road. Michaels feuded with Esiason, who blamed him for his firing in 2000. He had to laugh at Miller's forced jokes. Finally, he hit the jackpot when he teamed with the great John Madden for four glorious seasons from 2002 to 2005. Michaels handed off the "MNF" baton to Tirico in 2006. He's now partnered with Cris Collinsworth on the most-watched show on TV: NBC Sports' "Sunday Night Football." When he's done, Michael might go down as the great play-by-play announcer of all time. Here's Michaels on how "MNF" changed the face of prime time TV by creating a "national, communal sports experience."

Imagine a sportscaster capable of being named the best and worst on TV -- at the same time. That was the legendary Cosell, who was, by turns brilliant, fearless, egotistical, obnoxious and infuriating. The trio of Cosell, Frank Gifford and and Don Meredith turned "MNF" into national must-see TV. How many sports fans of a certain age grew up listening to Cosell's nasal voice delivering Sunday game highlights during halftime of "MNF?" Every sports highlight show since, including ESPN's "SportsCenter" owes a debt to Cosell. Similar to Howard Stern, many viewers tuned in just to hate him. The haters watched twice as long. Some bars held contests inviting fans to throw "Cosell Bricks" through TV's with his face on the screen. But he was also a great journalist who went hard after stories and didn't accept BS answers from athletes. Cosell eventually burned his bridges at ABC by publishing a nasty, tell-all biography called, "I Never Played the Game." When his devoted wife Emmy passed in 1990, Cosell never recovered. He died in 1995. Before we forget what a giant Cosell was in broadcasting, let's listen to him share the news of ex-Beatle John Lennon's murder on "MNF" in 1980:

 

Madden is hands-down the greatest NFL TV analyst who ever lived. His "MNF" pairing with the equally brilliant Al Michaels created what some considered to be the perfect two-person booth on "MNF." The Super Bowl-winning coach with the Oakland Raiders was informative, funny and entertaining. He explained the complicated X's and O's of football like nobody before or since -- complete with "Boom!" and "Wham!" sound effects. But Madden also humanized the game by making heroes out of lumbering offensive and defensive linemen with his "All-Madden Team. Pioneered the use of the telestrator to explain plays to the uninitiated. It's now standard operating equipment. The NFL has always been about mythology. And nobody made the game of football bigger, or more fun, than John Madden. When I asked Cris Collinsworth of NBC's "Sunday Night Football" about his predecessor, he called Madden simply the "gold standard." That says it all for me. Here's Madden and Michaels talking about Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception against Madden's Raiders.