Monday Night Football will have a new leader in the upcoming season, as ESPN has announced the hiring of Fox Sports’ Artie Kempner as the new director for MNF. This decision, as reported by The Athletic, aligns with the network’s plans for broadcasting Super Bowl LXI in February 2027. ESPN’s president of content, Burke Magnus, emphasized the importance of this move.
Kempner, who has an extensive 30-year tenure with Fox, is one of only 12 individuals worldwide to have directed Super Bowls. “There are only 12 people on earth who have directed Super Bowls, and he’s one of them,” Magnus remarked. He takes over from Derek Mobley, who directed MNF for the last two seasons, but will continue with ESPN in a new role, likely as a college football director, according to John Ourand.
Magnus expressed candid concerns regarding ESPN’s coverage in relation to other networks, stating, “I feel like we are not in the same conversation with Fox and CBS relative to our overall game presentation.” Despite the prominence of Buck and Aikman in Monday Night Football, the production of each game involves a vast team, with six production trucks and over 125 production staff at each game.
Having previously collaborated with Buck and Aikman at Fox, Kempner’s familiarity will be beneficial in his new position. Magnus dismissed claims suggesting that Buck and Aikman influenced Kempner’s hiring, labeling such speculation as belonging to the “Tinfoil Hat Club.” He is confident in Kempner’s ability to enhance ESPN’s broadcasts, particularly with Super Bowl LXI approaching. “We want to put our best foot forward in every conceivable way in what, with no exaggeration, could be the biggest moment in the history of ESPN by the time Feb. 14, 2027 rolls around,” Magnus stated. “Here is a guy who can elevate our game presentation.”
