NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Pushes Falcons vs. Saints MNF Game for Katrina Anniversary

One of the most iconic games in Monday Night Football history took place in Week Three of the 2006 season. The New Orleans Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons in their first home game since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Twenty years later, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sought to honor that moment by scheduling a Falcons vs. Saints Monday Night Football game in New Orleans during the 2026 season.

According to NFL Vice President of Broadcasting Planning Mike North, the league accommodated Goodell’s request by including the game in Week Four of the 2026 schedule.

"It's really to the Commissioner's credit. It was, 'We're gonna play Falcons at Saints on Monday night this year, fit it in in that kind of three-week window.' So, it wasn't a requirement it had to land in a special week, but it was a requirement, straight from the boss, that it landed on our schedule."

While some fans in New Orleans preferred the game to be played in Week Three, as it was in 2006, North explained that Week Four provided a better fit for the league’s overall schedule.

"Relative to the exact date of the anniversary, honestly, we figured if we were within a couple of weeks, we were in good shape. Fans remember that moment, the electricity, the excitement. If we were a week early, or closer to the day, or a week later, weren't gonna throw away our best schedule just by being off a couple days."

North also noted logistical challenges, including other events at the Caesars Superdome and nearby venues.

"Plus, as you know, there's a lot of events going on in that region. I don't have the stadium availability off the top of my head, but relative to the Dome itself, the arena across the street, there's concerts, there's basketball games, there's other things going on at times. It wasn't a, 'This game has to be in this week.'"

The 2006 game remains legendary, particularly for Steve Gleason's blocked punt, recovered by Curtis Deloatch for the Saints’ first touchdown. The 2026 matchup will serve as a celebration of that historic moment and the resilience of the Saints franchise.