Beth Mowins and Rex Ryan to Call ESPN's "Monday Night Football" Doubleheader Game

Mowins to Become First Female Broadcaster to Call an NFL Game Since 1987

Chargers vs. Broncos on Sept. 11, 10:15 p.m. ET

Veteran ESPN play-by-play voice Beth Mowins and new NFL studio analyst Rex Ryan will call the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos game from Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium on Sept. 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET as part of ESPN's season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader.

The Chargers-Broncos game will immediately follow ESPN's MNF opener - New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings (6:55 p.m.), featuring Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden and reporter Lisa Salters. MNF Schedule.

With this assignment, Mowins - who has signed a new multiyear extension to remain with ESPN - will become the first female announcer to call a National Football League game since 1987 and the first female broadcaster to call a nationally-televised NFL game. Gayle Sierens was the last woman to call an NFL game - the regional broadcast of a 1987 regular-season finale game on NBC.

"Beth has been an important voice in our college sports coverage and she has experience calling NFL preseason games. She deserves this opportunity," said Stephanie Druley, Senior Vice President, ESPN events and studio production. "ESPN is committed to putting talented women in high-profile positions and we look forward to Beth and Rex's call of this game on our MNF opening night."

Mowins added: "This is an amazing opportunity and I look forward to working with Rex and our entire ESPN team. As lifelong fans of the NFL Monday Night Football franchise, we want to bring the same passion to the broadcast as our predecessors have all done."

Mowins joined ESPN as a play-by-play commentator in 1994. She has called college football games since 2005 and is a staple on ESPN's regular-season men's and women's basketball schedules. She has called NCAA Championships in basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball and has been the voice of the Women's College World Series for more than 20 years, among other assignments. She has also called Oakland Raiders preseason NFL games in the Bay Area since 2015.

Ryan, the former Buffalo Bills and New York Jets head coach, joined ESPN earlier this year after a guest analyst appearance for Super Bowl LI. In addition to calling his first MNF game, Ryan will make weekly appearances on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown pregame show this fall as a studio analyst. He and Mowins previously worked together on the Florida State Garnet and Gold spring game in April.

ESPN senior coordinating producer Tim Corrigan, ESPN/ABC's lead NBA producer, will again oversee production of the MNF doubleheader game.