Monday Night Football moved to ESPN, which is included with Disney Plus

Yes, you can watch Monday Night Football on Disney Plus, but only if you have the right subscription tier. Disney Plus bundles ESPN as part of its Disney Bundle — a package that includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+. When you subscribe to the Bundle, you get access to Monday Night Football games that air on ESPN.

The catch is that Disney Plus alone does not include ESPN. You need either the Disney Bundle or a standalone ESPN+ subscription. If you already pay for Disney Plus by itself, you will need to upgrade to the Bundle to watch the games.

Monday Night Football games air on ESPN during the NFL season, which runs from September through early January. Not every game is exclusive to ESPN+ — some air on broadcast television (ABC or ESPN), which means you can watch them with a cable subscription or an antenna. But if you want to stream them through Disney Plus, the Bundle is your path.

Key Takeaways

  • Disney Plus alone does not include Monday Night Football; you need the Disney Bundle, which adds ESPN+ and Hulu to your Disney Plus subscription.
  • The Disney Bundle costs less than paying for Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+ separately, though the exact price depends on whether you choose ad-supported or ad-free tiers.
  • Some Monday Night Football games air on broadcast ABC, which you can watch with an antenna or cable subscription without needing Disney Plus at all.
  • You can stream games on the ESPN app using your Disney Bundle login, or watch directly through the Disney Plus app if ESPN+ is bundled with your account.

What the Disney Bundle includes and costs

The Disney Bundle combines three services: Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+. You choose your tier when you sign up. The ad-supported tier includes ads on Disney Plus and Hulu but gives you ad-free ESPN+. The ad-free tier removes ads from all three services. Prices vary by region and change periodically, so check Disney's website for current rates in your area.

If you already subscribe to Disney Plus alone, you can upgrade to the Bundle without losing your account history or watchlist. Disney will prorate the cost if you are mid-billing cycle. You upgrade through your Disney Plus account settings under subscription options.

The Bundle is cheaper than buying each service separately. For example, if you wanted Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+ as standalone subscriptions, you would pay three separate monthly fees. The Bundle bundles them into one lower price, which is why it makes sense if you watch content across all three platforms.

How to watch Monday Night Football through Disney Plus

Once you have the Disney Bundle, you have two ways to watch. The first is through the Disney Plus app itself — ESPN+ content appears as a tab or section within the app, and you can search for Monday Night Football games there. The second is through the ESPN app, where you log in with your Disney Bundle credentials and stream the game directly.

On game day, open whichever app you prefer. Search for "Monday Night Football" or navigate to the sports section. The game will show a start time and a "Watch" button. Click it, and the stream begins. You can watch on your phone, tablet, computer, or connected TV — Disney Plus and ESPN+ work on most streaming devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Chromecast.

If the game is airing on broadcast ABC instead of ESPN, you will not need the Bundle — you can watch it with a cable subscription, an antenna, or through the ABC app if you have cable credentials. Check the ESPN schedule before game day to see which channel carries that week's game.

Games that air on ABC versus ESPN

Not all Monday Night Football games require ESPN+. Some air on ABC, which is a broadcast network owned by Disney. If a game is on ABC, you can watch it with an antenna, a cable subscription, or through the ABC app (which requires cable login). These games do not require the Disney Bundle.

The NFL schedule determines which games go to which network. ESPN gets the exclusive streaming rights to certain games, while ABC gets broadcast rights to others. The ESPN schedule page lists every game and which network carries it. Check there before assuming you need the Bundle for a specific game.

If you have cable, you may already have ESPN included in your package, which means you can watch on the ESPN app or website without needing Disney Plus at all. Log in with your cable provider credentials instead of a Disney account.

Streaming quality and device compatibility

Disney Plus and ESPN+ stream in up to 4K resolution on compatible devices, though most games stream in 1080p or 720p depending on your internet speed and the device you are using. You need a stable internet connection of at least 5 Mbps for smooth HD streaming; 25 Mbps or higher is better for 4K.

The Disney Bundle works on nearly all major streaming devices: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, and most others. It also works on phones and tablets through the iOS and Android apps, and on computers through web browsers. If you are unsure whether your device is compatible, check Disney's device support page.

You can stream on multiple devices at once, but the number of simultaneous streams depends on your tier. Ad-supported and ad-free tiers typically allow 4 simultaneous streams, though this can vary. If you hit the limit, you will get an error message asking you to stop streaming on another device.

What to do if you only want ESPN+ without the full Bundle

If you do not care about Disney Plus or Hulu, you can buy ESPN+ as a standalone subscription. This gives you access to Monday Night Football games that air on ESPN, plus other sports content like college football, hockey, baseball, and soccer. Standalone ESPN+ costs less than the Bundle but more than Disney Plus alone.

Standalone ESPN+ is useful if you already subscribe to other streaming services and only want sports. You can cancel or pause it anytime without affecting other subscriptions. However, if you think you might watch Disney Plus or Hulu content, the Bundle usually saves money over time.

You can also combine ESPN+ with Hulu alone (without Disney Plus) if you want sports and general entertainment but not Disney content. Disney offers this combination as a separate bundle option.

Blackout rules and regional restrictions

Some Monday Night Football games may be subject to blackout restrictions, which means they are not available to stream in certain regions. Blackouts typically explore when a game is not sold out locally, to protect the local broadcast rights holder. If you see a message that a game is "not available in your region," a blackout is usually the reason.

Blackouts are set by the NFL and the local teams, not by Disney or ESPN. You cannot bypass them with a VPN or other workaround — ESPN detects and blocks these attempts. If a game is blacked out in your area, your only option is to watch it on local broadcast television if it airs there.

Blackout rules change year to year and vary by game. Before the season starts, check the ESPN blackout policy page to understand which games in your region might be restricted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need cable to watch Monday Night Football on Disney Plus?

No. The Disney Bundle is a streaming service that works without cable. You only need an internet connection and a Disney Bundle subscription. If a game airs on broadcast ABC, you can watch it with an antenna instead of cable, but ESPN games require the Bundle or a standalone ESPN+ subscription.

Can I watch Monday Night Football on Disney Plus with a free trial?

Disney Plus occasionally offers free trials, but these typically explore to Disney Plus alone, not the Bundle. Check Disney's website to see if a trial is currently available. Even if it is, the trial may not include ESPN+, so you would need to upgrade to the Bundle to watch football games.

What if I have cable and ESPN already included?

If your cable package includes ESPN, you can watch Monday Night Football through the ESPN app or website by logging in with your cable provider credentials. You do not need Disney Plus or the Bundle. However, some games may only be available to stream through ESPN+, in which case you would need the Bundle or standalone ESPN+ even with cable.

Can I watch Monday Night Football on Disney Plus outside the United States?

Disney Plus is available in many countries, but ESPN+ and the Disney Bundle are primarily a U.S. service. Availability of Monday Night Football outside the U.S. depends on local broadcasting rights in your country. Check Disney Plus in your region to see what sports content is available.

Is there a way to watch Monday Night Football without paying for Disney Plus?

Yes. If the game airs on broadcast ABC, you can watch it with an antenna or cable. If it airs on ESPN, you can buy a standalone ESPN+ subscription without Disney Plus. You can also check if your cable provider includes ESPN in your package, which would let you stream through their app.