The reason Monday Night Football (MNF) has started early recently is mainly due to the NFL and ESPN/Disney expanding the number of games broadcast on Monday nights. This expansion includes a doubleheader format with two games spaced apart by a few hours. The earlier game tends to target viewership in the Eastern and Central time zones, while the later game later serves fans across other time zones. This scheduling aims to maximize audience and ratings by offering more football content on Monday nights and appealing to fans in different regions. It is also part of the NFL's effort to capitalize on fan interest during the early part of the season, sometimes called "NFL Kickoff weekend".

Earlier starts on Monday nights also hinge on maximizing TV ratings and accommodating various time zones for viewers, allowing local markets to broadcast games more conveniently. These changes reflect evolving TV contracts and the NFL's strategy to enhance prime-time football viewership.

In summary, Monday Night Football started early due to the introduction of multiple games on Monday nights (a doubleheader) to enhance fan engagement, reach more viewers across U.S. time zones, and optimize TV ratings and broadcasts on ESPN and associated networks.