Pixar and the National Football League (NFL) are joining forces again for another edition of “Funday Football.” The “Funday” series of sporting events uses special technology to animate real-life players into a fun, alternate version of the football game, set inside the world of Monsters. It’s a compliment to the traditional live-action broadcast.
Pixar shared the announcement on X at 9:42 PM Eastern Time, shortly after ESPN teased a separate clip highlighting the game.
The incredible technology kicked off with the NFL on October 1, 2023, with a Toy Story-themed game (check out our post here). In 2024 (Dec 9), the game was Simpsons-themed, and in 2025, we’re lucky enough to get another Pixar theme.
WHEN & HOW TO WATCH THE MONSTERS INC. FOOTBALL GAME
On Monday, December 8, 2025, watch along (on ESPN2, ESPN app, Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney XD) as Mike Wazowski steps into the quarterback position for the Philadelphia Eagles and Sulley slings passes for the Los Angeles Chargers. Well, Mike and Sulley will jump onto the field for key plays throughout (not every play – they need their rest, too).
Billy Crystal and John Goodman will voice Mike and Sulley, respectively, via pre-recorded audio.
We’re thrilled to also learn that Pixar veteran Bob Peterson will be voicing Roz on the sidelines of the Cheer Floor (an altered version of the Scare Floor in the Monsters Inc. facility).
The teams will compete for Cheer Canisters, which store cheers rather than the traditional screams. The winning team will be crowned the Cheer Champion.
Heck, there will also be a halftime show to boost the team’s progress during the Cheer Canister Competition.
Throughout the game, Roz and the Child Detection Agency (CDA) will be on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly.
MONSTERS FUNDAY FOOTBALL PRESS-RELEASE
The official press release also highlighted the human announcers who will also handle the play-by-play announcing during the game.
ESPN’s Drew Carter and Dan Orlovsky Call the Action Live from Monstropolis
ESPN play-by-play commentator Drew Carter, who has called every edition of Funday Football and six total animated alternate telecasts across ESPN properties, and NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky, who will be calling his second Funday Football, will be in the broadcast booth as animated versions of themselves within the Monsters, Inc. world. Using virtual reality technology and Sony’s Beyond Sports Virtual Commentator Technology, the duo will experience the action firsthand through VR headsets.
New this year, ESPN sports and lifestyle content creator Katie Feeney will serve as the game’s social media correspondent, appearing in pre-produced segments as an animated version of herself, bringing fans the latest on the Monsters in attendance, an inside look at the Cheer Canister, and fun facts about the game.
