The Voices Of Monday Night Football Quiz

Answer: Frank Gifford

Frank Gifford was a first round draft pick in the 1952 draft. He played his entire career with the New York Giants. He was a very adaptable player who was known to play half-back, wide-receiver as well as defensive back. Inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1977, Frank Gifford was a football icon for over 40 years.

Answer: Boomer Esiason

Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason played in the NFL from 1984 until 1997. While most of his career was with the Cincinnati Bengals, he did spend two years with the New York Jets, and one year with the Arizona Cardinals before he went back for one more year with the Bengals. Esiason only worked for two seasons for Monday Night Football, mostly because of personal conflicts between him and play-by-play announcer Al Michaels.

He went on to work for the CBS show "The NFL Today" and radio work.

Answer: Don Meredith

"Dandy" Don Meredith was always a crowd favorite, both on the field and in the broadcast booth. His lighthearted delivery was the polar opposite to partner Howard Cosells intellectual, and stolid play by play. After his career on Monday Night Football, he did multiple appearances on televisions shows and did bit parts in movies.

He may be best remembered by football fans for his renditions of Willie Nelson's song "The Party's Over" at a time in the game when he thought that the victor had been decided and no comeback was possible.

Answer: Dan Dierdorf

In 1996 Dan Dierdorf was enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame. A testament to his toughness and athletic prowess on the field. He was able to play tackle, guard and center. When he joined Monday Night Football, he proved he was not just another pretty face with his intellectual delivery.

His career as a sports commentator for ABC lasted until 1998 after which he went on to a 30+ year career as a commentator for other channels and other sports.

Answer: Joe Namath

"Broadway Joe" Namath was one of the NFL's first true media superstars. Known for wearing long fur coats on the sideline during the game, and for wearing white shoes when the rest of the league wore white high tops, Namath baked in media attention. He hosted Monday Night Football for only one year (1985), where, for the first time, he seemed uncomfortable in the limelight. Often accused of being overly critical of the players, he was not asked back for a second year. Joe Namath also played in the very first Monday night football game to be televised losing to the Cleveland Browns.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.

Answer: Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants

Fran Tarkenton played 15 years with the Minnesota Vikings and 5 years with the New York Giants in a stellar career that led to his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1986. Tarkenton worked as a sports commentator for Monday Night Football from 1979-1982. He worked both Monday and Thursday night games. He went on to work in the ever-expanding world of computer software.

Answer: Lynn Swann

Hall of Famer Lynn Swann has always been noted for his class, even on the field of play. He also worked as a sideline reporter for four Superbowls (1994-1997). After his stint on Monday Night Football, Swann continued to work for ABC sports as a commentator for a variety of sports and guest roles on television. He then went into politics where his reputation of being suave, smooth, and classy continued to be an asset.

Answer: True

While many people are unaware of it, John Madden was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive tackle in 1958. A knee injury ended his career before the season started. But he was paid to play football which makes him a professional football player.

He is more well-known as the coach of the Oakland Raiders, leading them to a Superbowl victory in 1976. From 2002-2005 Madden was a commentator for ABC's Monday Night Football. Throughout his long career as a sports commentator he won 14 Emmy Awards as the "Outstanding Sports Event Analyst".

His experiences playing, coaching and commentating gave him a truly unique view of the sport.

Answer: True

O. J. Simpson was a Hall of Fame running back for the Buffalo Bill from 1969-1977. He worked 2 years on Monday Night Football often doing their Thursday night games. His athletic abilities far out-shined his commentating abilities. His media career was effectively ended in 1994 when Simpson was accused of murdering his wife and her friend.

He was found not-guilty in that trial which turned into a media circus. In 2005, he was sentenced to a total of 33 years for armed robbery.

Answer: San Diego Chargers

Dan Fouts wore the uniform of the San Diego Chargers for his entire career (1973-1987). Fouts was a sports commentator for two seasons with Monday Night Football (2000-2001). Considered by many to be one of the best sports commentators that actually played the game, Fouts has worked for many other football programs as well.

He has also done some film roles, most notably playing himself in the movie "The Waterboy" in 1998.