Who sings the 'Monday Night Football' song? 2026 MNF performers
· Yahoo Sports
Who sings the "Monday Night Football" theme? The first MNF game of the 2026 NFL season is tonight, and viewers may notice a new addition to ESPN's iconic opening song.
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
Chris Stapleton and Cindy Blackman Santana return for a fourth season as the faces of ESPN's version of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight." This year, however, the network is adding a new voice to the opener: Ludacris.
The refreshed Monday Night Football intro debuts ahead of Monday night's season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. While Stapleton's vocals and Blackman Santana's signature drumming remain central to ESPN's reimagined version of "In the Air Tonight," Ludacris joins the anthem for the first time with a new football-themed verse.
Who sings the Monday Night Football song? Who is the rapper in ESPN's intro? Who is the drummer featured alongside Stapleton? Here's what to know about the performers behind the MNF theme and what's new for 2026.
Who sings the 'Monday Night Football' song?
ESPN's 2026 "Monday Night Football" theme song features Chris Stapleton, Cindy Blackman Santana and new addition Ludacris performing a reimagined version of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight."
Who is singing ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' intro?
The performers featured in ESPN's 2026 opening are Chris Stapleton, Cindy Blackman Santana and Ludacris. Stapleton and Blackman Santana are returning for a fourth season, while Ludacris joins the opener for the first time.
Who is the rapper in the Monday Night Football song?
Ludacris is the newest performer featured in ESPN's "Monday Night Football" opening sequence. The Grammy-winning rapper appears at the start of the intro before the song transitions into the signature "In the Air Tonight" drum sequence.
Who is the woman in the Monday Night Football intro?
The woman featured alongside Chris Stapleton is Cindy Blackman Santana.
Blackman Santana is a drummer who has appeared in ESPN's "In the Air Tonight" opener since it debuted in 2023. She performs the famous drum fill associated with Phil Collins' hit song.
Is Cindy Blackman Santana related to Carlos Santana?
Yes. Cindy Blackman Santana is married to legendary guitarist Carlos Santana. The Grammy-winning drummer adopted the Santana surname after the pair married in 2010.
What song is used for Monday Night Football?
ESPN's "Monday Night Football" opener is based on Phil Collins' 1981 hit "In the Air Tonight."
The song was reimagined for ESPN's NFL coverage in 2023 and remains the network's signature MNF anthem heading into the 2026 season.
What does Ludacris say in the Monday Night Football intro?
Ludacris opens ESPN's 2026 "Monday Night Football" intro with:
"Monday night magic
Closing out the weekend
Luda on the mic
It's football season!"
The rapper's verse serves as the biggest addition to ESPN's refreshed "In the Air Tonight" opener before Cindy Blackman Santana performs the song's signature drum sequence.
Was Snoop Dogg in the Monday Night Football song?
Not this year. Snoop Dogg appeared in ESPN's original 2023 version of the "In the Air Tonight" opener.
For the 2026 NFL season, Chris Stapleton and Cindy Blackman Santana return while Ludacris takes over as the intro's featured rapper.
What's new about the Monday Night Football song in 2026?
The biggest change for 2026 is the addition of Ludacris.
Snoop Dogg appeared in the original 2023 version of ESPN's "In the Air Tonight" theme song, while Ludacris takes over as the featured rapper this season.
What time does Monday Night Football start? How to watch Chiefs vs. Broncos
The 2026 "Monday Night Football" season begins Monday, Sept. 14, when the Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch Broncos vs. Chiefs live on ESPN and ABC or stream the game through services that carry those channels, including Fubo.
The Chiefs vs. Broncos matchup also serves as the debut of ESPN's refreshed MNF opener featuring Chris Stapleton, Cindy Blackman Santana and Ludacris.
Stream Monday Night Football on Fubo
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network's Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who sings the 'Monday Night Football' song? 2026 MNF performers
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.