Why Is There No ManningCast On Tonight? All We Know About ESPN’s Alternative To Manning Brothers’ Show

The NFL season has been pretty wild so far. This year, fans witnessed some of the craziest games, but no teams have emerged as true contenders for the Vince Lombardi Trophy yet. One of the most awaited shows fans eagerly anticipate on ESPN’s Monday Night Football has been the ManningCast, hosted by Eli and Payton Manning.

The ManningCast has returned for its fifth season this year and is probably something the fans are eagerly waiting for tonight’s game as well. Unfortunately, as per ESPN’s MNF schedule, there will be no ManningCast tonight. Instead, the network is presenting the upcoming Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Chargers game with Disney’s Monsters, Inc.

Football is coming to Monsters, Inc. 🏈

Watch Monsters Funday Football with the Eagles and Chargers at 8 PM ET exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel and the ESPN App 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ozS5clKhro

— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2025

ESPN, Disney, Pixar, and the NFL are presenting ‘Monsters Funday Football’ as an innovative alternate broadcast for the Eagles vs. Chargers game on December 8, 2025. The real-time animated production transforms the live matchup into the Monsters, Inc. universe, set inside the iconic Monstropolis building on the ‘Cheer Floor’.

The broadcast will be using the NFL’s Next Gen Stats and Sony’s visualization technology to sync animated characters with real gameplay. Iconic characters like Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal for the Eaglers) and Sulley (voiced by John Goodman for the Chargers) will drive the action, with color schemes matching team uniforms, alongside Roz on the sideline and halftime Cheer Canister competitions.

The choice of Monsters, Inc. continues the successful Funday Football series, following the success of ‘Toy Story’ in 2023 and ‘The Simpsons’ in 2024. This pushes boundaries in sports tech by blending live NFL data with immersive Pixar animation, bringing a whole new fan experience. Also, original voices return to enhance authenticity, while NFL stars make pre-recorded cameos to sweeten the experience.

ESPN’s Chris Berman debuts in this animated segment, all airing on ESPN2, Disney Channel, and streaming platforms like Disney+. Technical challenges like ball tracking in prior events have been refined for smoother integration.

What is the NFL’s Funday Football Series?

NFL’s Funday Football series delivers an innovative alternate broadcast of live games. It transforms real NFL action into animated worlds using Disney and Pixar’s IPs. Powered by NFL Next Gen Stats and Sony’s Beyond Sports tech, it syncs player tracking data in real time. Animations recreate every snap, run, and tackle with characters from popular franchises.

The series launched with Toy Story Funday Football in 2023 in a game between the Falcons and Jaguars. The Simpsons edition followed in 2024, earning Emmy nods for tech and design. This year’s iteration introduces Monsters, Inc. for the game between the Eagles and Chargers, featuring voices like Billy Crystal. The event will air on ESPN2, Disney Channel, and streaming apps and looks to target a younger audience to get a fun-filled and immersive experience.

Read More: