A wild triple-turnover play broke James P. Sullivan.
Not literally — but ESPN’s “Monsters Funday Football” broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles-Los Angeles Chargers game seemed to implode after Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an interception and then fumbled on the same play.
On Monday night’s “Monsters, Inc.”-themed broadcast, Sullivan — rendered in purple and green — intercepted an animated Hurts pass, only to fumble it moments later. The feed glitched, and an instant replay struggled to make sense of the chaos.
“What is happening in Monstropolis?” ESPN play-by-play commentator Drew Carter said on the broadcast.
ESPN’s third animated alternate cast for an NFL game was its biggest yet. The broadcast was shown on ESPN2, Disney Channel and Disney XD and was streamed on Disney+, NFL+ and the ESPN app.
Famous characters from the movie, such as Sullivan, Mike Wazowski and Roz, were featured. Original voice actors Billy Crystal (Wazowski), John Goodman (Sulley) and Bob Peterson (Roz) repeated their roles.
Fantasy owners all around the world watching this matchup.
Monsters Funday Football exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/if4RxXYZbC
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2025
While the game itself, between teams that entered with 8-4 records, delivered a 22-19 overtime win for the Chargers, the Monsters-themed broadcast held up as a highlight in its own right.
Here’s some of what I saw on the telecast.
Sulley’s MVP-type night
There wasn’t a bigger winner from Monday’s game than Sullivan. He recorded three interceptions, a touchdown and several big runs and catches. A true superstar-level performance from the 7-foot-8 monster.
Sulley has his 3rd interception of the game! Hall of Fame him.
Monsters Funday Football exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/2hfOnXEK3e
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2025
“Never mind Drake Maye, Josh Allen, Sulley’s trying to win MVP in one night,” ESPN broadcaster Dan Orlovsky said.
ESPN featured Sullivan on several plays, including Chargers running back Omarion Hampton’s first-quarter receiving touchdown. He constantly read the eyes of Hurts on defense, making a great play in zone coverage over the middle. The broadcast even flashed a graphic that read “most (interceptions) by a monster in Monstropolis history.”
The animated monster played almost every position for the Chargers, while Wazowski suited up for the Eagles. The two characters faced off in several key moments, including on the offensive and defensive line, as wide receiver against cornerback on the perimeter and even in carnival games during halftime.
“What can’t Sulley do?” Carter asked in overtime.
The Monstropolis atmosphere
ESPN created a new stadium for Monday’s game, based in the city of “Monstropolis.” The broadcast mirrored the game inside the Pixar-based universe, but it tried to get creative with its explanations.
The broadcast used “Monsters, Inc.” analogies to try to explain football to the audience. Terms such as the red zone and icing the kicker were explained through movie scenarios. ESPN used virtual notebooks and notepads to show a “griddy robot” celebrating. The broadcast asked movie- and football-related trivia questions during breaks in the action.
Men in yellow hazmat suits were essentially the referees, flashing on the screen whenever one of the game’s 13 penalties was assessed. A “sell-out” crowd cheered during big plays and started various chants such as “Let’s go, Sulley!” Orlovsky’s and Carter’s animated characters even made a “6-7” joke. There were chants of “Block that kick!” during the Chargers’ overtime field goal attempt.
“I think Monstropolis should host every Super Bowl,” Sulley said at the end of the broadcast.
Football to Monsters
Throughout the game, ESPN looped in recorded interviews with different Chargers and Eagles players. Roz asked players these questions:
“Were you afraid of monsters as a human child?”
“What advice do you have for Wazowski or Sullivan?”
“Who from your team is like me, always watching you?”
Cameron Dicker and Keenan Allen of the Chargers chose coach Jim Harbaugh, while the Eagles’ Jordan Mailata and Reed Blankenship said general manager Howie Roseman followed their every move.
The broadcast made the game easier to follow while preserving the essential football elements. It seemed to draw fairly positive attention on social media, as fans praised Sullivan’s performance and Wazowski’s late-game showing.
Monday was ESPN’s third animated NFL alternate telecast. Earlier iterations centered on “Toy Story” and “The Simpsons.” The Sports Business Journal reported that “Monsters Funday Football” was the first time the alt-cast has sold separate advertiser deals, including pacts with Colgate and Volkswagen.
Wazowski’s clutch moments
For most of the night, Wazowski’s best friend was the star. But in the biggest moments of Monday’s game, the one-eyed green monster played his best.
MIKE “SAQUON BARKLEY” WAZOWSKI GOES 52 YARDS FOR A TD
Monsters Funday Football exclusively on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney XD, Disney Channel and the ESPN App pic.twitter.com/sl3r5FJrTI
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2025
Wazowski scored a 52-yard touchdown run on Saquon Barkley’s big fourth-quarter play. He also sacked the Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and ran a strong route on a third-down conversion in the fourth quarter against his fellow monster.
“Great versus great. Mike versus Sulley,” Orlovsky said. “It feels like Mike Wazowski is taking over this football game for his Philadelphia Eagles.”
Wazowski and the Eagles were unable to secure the overtime win, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort from the monster.
“Sulley started as the star for the Chargers,” Carter said, “but in the second half it’s been all about Mike Wazowski.”