'Monday Night Football' is back and the 1st game is packed with stars on and off the field

"Monday Night Football" kicks off its new season with a big game: the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

It's a big game for several reasons. First, it's Aaron Rodgers' first game for the Jets since leaving the Green Bay Packers. The team has been featured on "Hard Knocks," the Max series that spotlights a team each season, and from the very first frame of the first episode, Rodgers has unquestionably been the star.

Second, it's a record-setting broadcast for the announcing team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. This will be their 22nd season together, the most ever. This moves them past some true legends, John Madden and Pat Summerall. (Yes, Madden was an announcer, not just the face and name of a football video game. And a Hall of Fame coach before that. Live and learn.)

Buck and Aikman first teamed up at Fox in 2002. They moved to ESPN before last season, part of a seismic shift in NFL announcing booths. They have called more than 300 regular-season games and 50 playoff games together, as well as six Super Bowls. They're scheduled to call the 2026 Super Bowl, which will air on ESPN for the first time.

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Where can I watch 'Monday Night Football?'

The game begins at 5:15 p.m. Arizona time on Monday, Sept. 11 on ESPN and ABC 15.

"Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli" also returns. It's on at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN2. Tennis legend John McEnroe and former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick are the scheduled guests.

What time is 'Monday Night Football?'

5:15 p.m. Arizona time Monday, Sept. 11 on ESPN and ABC 15.

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Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X, formerly known as Twitter: @goodyk.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Where to watch 'Monday Night Football' and why it's a historic return