ESPN Unveils ManningCast 2026 Schedule With Super Bowl Special

Peyton and Eli Manning have launched their sixth season of the ManningCast, an alternate broadcast airing on ESPN2 and the app for select Monday Night Football matchups. The 2026 slate includes 11 regular-season broadcasts plus a debut alternate telecast of Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 14, 2027. To promote this schedule, the Mannings recruited over 40 athletes and celebrities for a campaign video featuring stars such as Anne Hathaway, Paul Rudd, Larry David, John Hamm, Serena Williams, Rob Gronkowski, Marshawn Lynch, and Travis Kelce in an elaborate skit involving NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The specific games featured on the 2026 ManningCast include Week 1 (Broncos at Chiefs), Week 2 (Giants at Rams), Week 4 (Falcons at Saints), Week 5 (Bills at Rams), Week 7 (Cowboys at Eagles), Week 8 (Bears at Seahawks), Week 10 (Chargers at Ravens), Week 11 (Bengals at Commanders), and Week 13 (Cowboys at Seahawks). Weeks three, six, nine, twelve, fourteen, sixteen contain no ManningCast broadcasts. The series concluded in January with the Texans at Packers game.

Despite critical acclaim for its format, which blends analysis with entertainment, recent viewership data shows a significant disconnect between industry expectations and audience response. A recent episode drew only 705,000 viewers out of 23.2 million total MNF viewers representing just three percent of the audience. ESPN reportedly plans to introduce an alternate broadcast by Pat McAfee during weeks without ManningCast coverage, potentially creating a direct competition where both shows air simultaneously for Super Bowl LXI.