ESPN to Air Monday Night Football Through 2021

The NFL and ESPN have agreed to a new contract that will keep Monday Night Football on the network through 2021.

The new deal takes effect when the current contract runs out in 2014.

The big part of the deal is an additional 500 hours of studio NFL-related programming effective immediately.

ESPN went on the air in 1979.  It's first exposure with the NFL came with the NFL draft in 1980.  ESPN began airing Sunday Night Football in 1987 and has been carrying Monday Night Football since 2006.