Millions Tune In As Snoop Dogg Opens 2025 NFL Season — His 10-Word Promise About the Future of MNF Leaves ESPN Smiling
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The 2025 NFL season kicked off in style on Monday night, and while the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears took center stage on the field, it was Snoop Dogg who stole the show before the first snap.
Two years after teaming up with Chris Stapleton and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana to reimagine Phil Collins’ 1981 classic “In the Air Tonight” as the theme for Monday Night Football, the trio returned on September 8 to electrify millions of viewers worldwide. The performance, broadcast ahead of the season opener, marked the official start of ESPN’s 2025 MNF coverage — and reminded fans why this anthem has become a modern classic in its own right.
“As Long as Fans Want Me Here…”
As the cameras cut to Snoop following the opening montage, the rapper delivered a promise that immediately lit up social media:
“As long as fans want me here, I’ll keep rapping it.”
Ten words were all it took to send ESPN executives — and football fans — into a frenzy. For many, Snoop’s presence has transformed Monday Night Football’s pregame tradition from routine into appointment viewing.
A Theme Song With Staying Power
When Stapleton and Snoop first debuted their reworked version of “In the Air Tonight” in 2023, it was hailed as bold but risky. Now, two years later, fans are as enthusiastic as ever.
“Happy they brought back Chris Stapleton and Snoop Dogg for the intro!” one viewer wrote during the broadcast. Another echoed the sentiment: “Best MNF opener in years. Don’t ever change it.”
With its booming drums, Stapleton’s gravelly vocals, and Snoop’s unmistakable verses, the anthem has already cemented itself in NFL lore.
From Hank Jr. to Hip-Hop
The performance also marked another milestone in the NFL’s evolving musical identity. For over 20 years, Hank Williams Jr.’s “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” — reworked into “All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night” — defined the sound of Monday Night Football. First aired in 1989, Williams’ theme was pulled in 2011, briefly revived in 2017, and retired for good in 2020.
When ESPN tapped Stapleton and Snoop in 2023, it signaled a generational shift — one that blended classic rock, country, and hip-hop into a cross-genre anthem capable of energizing fans of all ages.
More Than Just Football
For Snoop Dogg, the gig represents more than a paycheck — it’s a cultural moment. A hip-hop legend opening the NFL’s most iconic broadcast alongside one of country music’s biggest stars reflects the league’s effort to connect with a broader, younger audience.
As one ESPN producer put it: “It’s not just about football anymore. It’s about spectacle, tradition, and music that makes you feel like the game matters.”
And with Snoop promising to stay as long as fans demand it, the NFL may have finally found its new anthem for the long haul.
Would you like me to frame this piece more as a sports business story (focusing on ESPN’s branding and cultural strategy) or as a pop-culture moment (emphasizing fan reactions and Snoop’s influence)?
