Continuing momentum of ESPN’s “Year of the Super Bowl” efforts that began the moment the clock struck zeros after Super Bowl LX, ESPN and Apple Music today announced the two sides are collaborating on Monday Night Football (MNF) music curation for the 2026-27 season.
In recent years ESPN has collaborated on MNF music curation with iconic artists such as Saweetie (2025), J Balvin (2024), Timbaland & Justin Timberlake (2023), Marshmello (2022), Drake (2021), DJ Khaled (2020), and Diplo (2019). Apple Music will be stepping into that role leading up to ESPN’s first-ever Super Bowl and the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show.
The announcement of Apple Music curating music for MNF this season provides a global, cultural platform for the season, and the music chosen will run in ESPN MNF promotional spots, live telecasts and Monday Night Countdown.
“There’s nothing like the energy of a Monday Night Football game,” said Matt Plotnik, Global Head of Marketing, Apple Music and Apple Podcasts. “We’re giving that energy a soundtrack, powered by Apple Music’s deep bench of curators and tastemakers. We can’t wait to bring artists and music to this audience in a way that matches the moment.”
The first song and artist Apple Music has selected is the recently-released single, ‘Dead Fresh’ by Lil Baby, which will run in ESPN’s Week 1 promotional efforts. Week 1’s MNF game is Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN between the Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs.
Apple Music’s weekly music picks will appear in the following games:
- Week 1: Broncos vs. Chiefs
- Week 5: Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Week 7: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 13: Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 15: New England Patriots vs. Chiefs
- Week 18: TBD double header
Said Curtis Friends, Vice President of Sports Marketing at ESPN: “Lil Baby sets the tone at kickoff for us. The sound, energy, and moment are right, just like Pharrell’s beat. This is the biggest season yet for ESPN, and Apple Music is perfect to help carry that energy from Monday Night Football all the way through to the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.”
Today also kicks off as the official Road to Halftime countdown on Apple Music. This is your home for everything leading up to the big game, from kickoff to the Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show. Dive into exclusive playlists, iconic performances, and more. Fans can also follow along all season on Apple Music’s TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, X, and Facebook channels.
Monday Night Football leads ESPN’s largest NFL season ever, culminating with Super Bowl LXI
ESPN enters its first-ever Super Bowl season with its largest NFL game portfolio ever, featuring 28 games plus Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027. Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge return to lead Monday Night Football, beginning with the aforementioned Broncos-Chiefs matchup in Week 1, with Buck and Aikman entering their record 25th season together as an NFL broadcast duo. A full look at ESPN’s NFL coverage plans can be found here.
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About Apple Music
Apple loves music. Apple revolutionized the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, the award-winning Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalog of over 100 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-synced lyrics, lossless audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world’s best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favorites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in over 167 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music.