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ESPN Monday night football relive the nostalgic hit on Monday night (September 18) when the broadcast kicked off with a new music video featuring Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana as they reimagine Phil Collins’ classic “In the Air Tonight.”
The clip led into ESPN’s coverage of the New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers at 7:15 PM ET, as well as ABC’s coverage of the Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game at 8:15 PM ET. It will now continue for everyone Monday night football game, as well as ESPN’s Week 18 doubleheader on Saturday, the Super Wild Card and its first divisional playoff game, according to a news release.
“It was fascinating to me to see how one song can put you in that mode of kicking your tail,” Steelers’ Hines Ward said on ESPN of the song, before the Washington Commanders’ Terry McLaurin added, “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter if you’re the home team, the away team, regardless (before the game) you hear that song.”
“In the Air Tonight” first appeared on Collins’ debut solo album, Nominal valuein 1981. Released as a single, it peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rock ballad bubbled under the Hot 100 for six weeks in the fall of 1984 after being featured on NBC’s buzzy hit. Miami Vice. The song was later featured on Miami Vice soundtrack that topped the Billboard 200 for 11 weeks in 1985-86.
The new twist on “In the Air Tonight” isn’t the only musical moment this season. As previously announced, ESPN has teamed up with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake to provide music for select Monday Night Football games during the 2023-24 NFL season. Selected music from the superstar duo will run for seven weeks this season in Monday Night Football promotional spots, live television broadcasts and pre-game shows.
Watch a preview of “In the Air Tonight” below.
