Monsters, Mayhem, and Monday Night Magic: ESPN’s “Monsters Funday Football” Delivers an Animated NFL Spectacle
Monday night’s matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers had all the ingredients of a classic: two 8-4 teams, a dramatic 22-19 overtime finish, and playoff implications on the line. But for fans tuning in on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, or Disney Channel, the real headline wasn’t just the football-it was the full-on animated chaos that unfolded in Monsters Funday Football, ESPN’s latest alternate broadcast.
Set in the Pixar-inspired world of Monsters, Inc., the game turned into an unforgettable blend of NFL action and animated absurdity. At the center of it all? A wild triple-turnover sequence, a glitching feed, and one purple-and-green monster who played like a Hall of Famer.
Chaos in Monstropolis: The Triple-Turnover Play That Broke the Broadcast
Let’s start with the moment that broke both the internet and Monstropolis.
Late in regulation, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a pass that was picked off by none other than James P. Sullivan-yes, that Sulley.
But just as the animated monster started celebrating, he fumbled the ball right back. What followed was a digital meltdown.
The feed glitched, the replay couldn’t quite keep up, and ESPN play-by-play man Drew Carter summed it up best: “What is happening in Monstropolis?”
It was the kind of moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the night-equal parts football and funhouse.
Sulley’s MVP-Caliber Night
If there was an MVP of Monsters Funday Football, Sulley ran away with it-literally and figuratively.
The 7-foot-8 monster was everywhere. He recorded three interceptions, scored a touchdown, and made plays on both sides of the ball.
He read Hurts’ eyes like a seasoned vet in zone coverage and even showed off his wheels with a few big runs. At one point, the broadcast flashed a graphic declaring him the all-time interceptions leader in Monstropolis history.
“Never mind Drake Maye, never mind Josh Allen,” said analyst Dan Orlovsky. “Sulley’s trying to win MVP in one night.”
And he almost did. Sulley lined up all over the field for the Chargers-cornerback, wideout, defensive line, you name it.
His matchup with Mike Wazowski, who suited up for the Eagles, became a recurring highlight. The two faced off in the trenches, out wide, and even in a few halftime carnival games.
By overtime, Carter was asking the question on everyone’s mind: “What can’t Sulley do?”
A Stadium Only Pixar Could Build
The game took place in a fully animated Monstropolis stadium, complete with a sellout crowd of monsters, yellow hazmat-suit referees, and chants echoing through the digital stands. “Let’s go, Sulley!” rang out after big plays, and when the Chargers lined up for the game-winning field goal in overtime, the crowd erupted in a chant of “Block that kick!”
The ESPN crew leaned all the way in. Carter and Orlovsky were animated versions of themselves, cracking jokes and breaking down plays with a mix of football IQ and Pixar flair.
The broadcast used Monsters, Inc. references to explain football concepts-think “red zone” analogies and “icing the kicker” explained through scare tactics. There were trivia breaks, virtual notepads, and even a “griddy robot” celebration.
At one point, Sulley himself declared, “I think Monstropolis should host every Super Bowl.” After Monday night, it’s hard to argue.
Player Interviews with a Monster Twist
The broadcast also sprinkled in pre-recorded interviews with real Eagles and Chargers players. The twist? They were answering questions from Roz-the always-watching, paperwork-loving monster from the film.
“Were you afraid of monsters as a child?” she asked.
“Who on your team is like me-always watching you?”
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker and wideout Keenan Allen pointed to coach Jim Harbaugh. On the Eagles’ side, Jordan Mailata and Reed Blankenship called out GM Howie Roseman as the ever-present observer.
It was a playful way to connect the animated world with the real players on the field, and it helped make the broadcast more accessible for younger fans without losing the core football audience.
Wazowski’s Second-Half Surge
While Sulley dominated early, Mike Wazowski made sure he had his moment, too.
The one-eyed green monster turned in a clutch fourth quarter, highlighted by a 52-yard touchdown run on a play mirroring Saquon Barkley’s real-life burst. He also sacked Justin Herbert and ran a crisp third-down route to keep a drive alive.
“Great versus great. Mike versus Sulley,” Orlovsky said. “It feels like Mike Wazowski is taking over this football game for his Philadelphia Eagles.”
And for a moment, it looked like he might. Wazowski’s late-game heroics helped push the Eagles into overtime, but the Chargers ultimately came away with the win. Still, the broadcast made it clear-this wasn’t just Sulley’s show.
“Sulley started as the star for the Chargers,” Carter said, “but in the second half it’s been all about Mike Wazowski.”
A New Era of Alternate Broadcasts
Monsters Funday Football marked ESPN’s third foray into animated NFL broadcasts, following earlier experiments with Toy Story and The Simpsons. But this one was the most ambitious yet, airing across multiple Disney platforms and even featuring exclusive ad deals with brands like Colgate and Volkswagen.
The result? A broadcast that managed to make football more fun without dumbing it down-something that’s easier said than done. It brought in new fans, gave kids a reason to care about zone coverage, and gave football diehards a fresh way to experience the game.
And it gave us Sulley, the ball-hawking, touchdown-scoring, all-position-playing monster we never knew we needed on a football field.
If Monday night was any indication, the future of alternate broadcasts is going to be a lot more animated-and a lot more fun.