The honor of hosting “Saturday Night Live” is typically reserved for actors, comedians, musicians, or – sometimes – even reality-TV stars. Every once in a while, however, an athlete will channel their best comedic skills and take a shot at performing on the beloved live program. Over the years, there have been more than 30 professional athletes who have taken the stage and hosted “SNL,” including NFL legends like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, wrestling icons like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, and NBA stars like LeBron James and Charles Barkley.
While some female athletes have taken on the hosting gig – like Chris Evert – the number is shockingly smaller than men who were at the helm. The discrepancy is hard to overlook, especially as another male athlete steps into the role of host.
The next athlete to star in the live sketch show at 30 Rock is Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who recently won the Super Bowl on Feb. 12. Ahead of Kelce’s appearance on March 4, here are all the athletes who have hosted “SNL.”
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Fran Tarkenton
The first athlete to host “Saturday Night Live” was NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. At the time of his “SNL” debut, Tarkenton was in his fifth season with the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL QB originally started with the Vikings back in 1961 but went to play for the New York Giants in 1967. After four years with the team, Tarkenton returned to Minnesota and finished his career with the Vikings, per the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Date Hosted: Jan. 29, 1977
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O.J. Simpson
Prior to his highly publicized criminal trial and fall from grace, O.J. Simpson was a revered, record-breaking NFL player. As an athlete, Simpson is most known for playing with the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977 and later with the San Francisco 49ers from 1978 to 1979. During his time in the NFL, Simpson also had a successful acting career, and he continued to pursue roles in front of the camera after his retirement.
Date Hosted: Feb. 25, 1978
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John Madden
John Madden was a few years into his commentating career when he hosted “SNL” in 1982. Though he is most remembered for his iconic breakdown of NFL games on TV, Madden is also known for leading the Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl appearance (and win) in 1977.
Date Hosted: Jan. 30, 1982
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Bob Uecker
Named “Mr. Baseball” by late-night talk-show host Johnny Carson, Bob Uecker has had a lengthy career as a play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers since 1971 and is still broadcasting games at 89 years old, as reported by Fox 11 News. Back in 1984, he shared the “SNL” stage with comedians like Billy Crystal and Jim Belushi.
Date Hosted: Oct. 13, 1984
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Alex Karras
NFL defensive tackle Alex Karras played for the Detroit Lions from 1958 to 1970. After leaving the NFL, Karras launched his acting career and starred in “Blazing Saddles” alongside Gene Wilder and had a recurring role as George Papadopolis on the ABC sitcom “Webster,” per The New York Times. For his 1985 “SNL” appearance, legendary singer Tina Turner was the musical guest.
Date Hosted: Feb. 2, 1985
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Mr. T and Hulk Hogan
WWF wrestling duo Mr. T and Hulk Hogan took the stage together to host “SNL” in 1985. Separately, the pair are known for their own successes. Mr. T is arguably more remembered for his acting career than his stint in professional wrestling and appeared in “Rocky III,” as well as the popular TV show “The A-Team.” Hogan, on the other hand, had a successful career in the WWF throughout the 1980s and 1990s and even starred in his own reality TV show in the 2000s.
Date Hosted: March 30, 1985
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Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Legendary middleweight boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler dominated his division throughout the 1980s. During his career, he had a total of 67 fights, winning 62. Hagler hosted “SNL” only two months after his final victory fight against John Mugabi, according to Insider.
Date Hosted: May 17, 1986
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Billy Martin
New York Yankees manager and former Yankees second baseman Billy Martin was the butt of his “SNL” appearance in 1986. Just a few months prior to his comedic debut, Martin was fired by the Yankees for engaging in a brawl with one of his players at the end of the 1985 season, as reported by The LA Times. “SNL” mocked his controversial persona and career in a final skit that involved “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels firing him from his hosting job.
Date Hosted: May 24, 1986
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Walter Payton and Joe Montana
Football stars Walter Payton and Joe Montana cohosted “SNL” the day before Super Bowl XXI in January 1987. Payton, nicknamed “Sweetness,” is recognized as one of the greatest NFL players of all time for his records set with the Chicago Bears. In the same regard, Montana is a four-time Super Bowl champion and known for his career accomplishments as a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers.
Date Hosted: Jan. 24, 1987
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Carl Weathers
Before his iconic role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky film franchise, Carl Weathers had a brief stint in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 1971, per Sports Illustrated’s Fan Nation. Later, Weathers briefly played for the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1973. Following his professional football career, Weathers starred in a number of other films, including “Predator,” “Little Nicky,” and, most recently, “Toy Story 4.”
Date Hosted: Jan. 30, 1988
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Wayne Gretzky
Recognized by many as the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky played for a number of teams during his 20-year career in the NHL. The Hall of Fame player hosted “SNL” in 1989 shortly after finishing his first season with the Los Angeles Kings.
Date Hosted: May 13, 1989
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Chris Evert
Before packing up her tennis racket for good, Chris Evert had a prolific professional career in the sport. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Evert reached 34 major singles finals and won six US Open championships and seven French Open championships, per the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was the first woman athlete to take on the gig when she hosted “SNL” in 1989.
Date Hosted: Nov. 11, 1989
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Michael Jordan
High off of his first NBA championship win with the Chicago Bulls in June 1991, Michael Jordan hosted “SNL” just months later that September. Jordan is considered to be one of the greatest NBA players in the sport’s history, with a total of six championship wins under his belt. Outside of his career as a player, Jordan starred in the 1996 film “Space Jam” and famously is the face and name behind Nike’s Air Jordan sneakers.
Date Hosted: Sept. 28, 1991
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Charles Barkley
Eleven-time NBA All-Star Charles Barkley has hosted “SNL” a total of four times since his debut on the skit show in 1993. Barkley played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets throughout his 26-year professional career. Post-retirement, he’s had a successful run as an analyst on TNT with other NBA legends, including Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
First Hosted: Sept. 25, 1993
Later Hosted: Jan. 9, 2010; Jan. 7, 2012; March 3, 2018
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Nancy Kerrigan
In 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan became the victim of an attack by the husband of rival Tonya Harding in an alleged attempt to hinder her chances of proceeding in the National Championships and Winter Olympics, according to History. Kerrigan recovered from the attack and ultimately went on to earn a silver medal in the Olympics, and a month after her victory, she appeared on “SNL.”
Date Hosted: March 12, 1994
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George Foreman
Two-time world heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist George Foreman took a shot at hosting “SNL” in 1994, a little over a month after his memorable victory over opponent Michael Moorer. After his final retirement, Foreman became the face behind the George Foreman Grill and was a ringside analyst for HBO’s boxing program.
Date Hosted: Dec. 17, 1994
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Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders has had an incredible career in professional sports, playing both baseball and football in the major leagues. When he hosted “SNL” in 1995, he was with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the Super Bowl that year. Sanders went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens before retiring in 2006. He’s currently the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team.
Date Hosted: Feb. 18, 1995
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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Though many might know Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for his career on the screen, he is equally remembered for his time in the WWF as a professional wrestler. The beloved actor hosted “SNL” for the first time in 2000 and went on to helm the show four more times after.
First Hosted: March 18, 2000
Later Hosted: April 13, 2002; March 7, 2009; March 28, 2015; May 20, 2017
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Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter’s 2001 “SNL” appearance was a notable one. In the 2001 season, the pro baseball player led the New York Yankees to the World Series months after Sept. 11, which was the first professional sports championship series held after the attacks, as reported by ABC News.
Date Hosted: Dec. 1, 2001
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Jeff Gordon
By the time NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon hosted “SNL” in 2003, he had already won the Winston Cup four times and had multiple Daytona 500, Talladega 500, and Coca-Cola 600 wins under his belt. Gordon is credited for popularizing stock car racing and has had a successful career post-retirement.
Date Hosted: Jan. 11, 2003
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Andy Roddick
Tennis pro Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open and 2003 Australian Open prior to hosting “SNL” in November 2003. That same year, he earned the year-end No. 1 ranking, and he went on to win five Masters titles before he retired in 2012.
Date Hosted: Nov. 8, 2003
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Tom Brady
Tom Brady‘s 2005 “SNL” appearance came just months after his second Super Bowl win with the New England Patriots. Brady played for the team for 19 years, and in 2020, he switched teams and went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2023. In total, Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champ and considered by many to be one of the greatest athletes in history.
Date Hosted: April 16, 2005
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Lance Armstrong
Road-racing cyclist Lance Armstrong was a seven-time Tour de France winner by the time he hosted “SNL” in 2005. His debut on the show is mostly remembered for his then-fiancée, Sheryl Crow, being the musical guest.
Date Hosted: Oct. 29, 2005
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Peyton Manning
Fresh from his Super Bowl win with the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning hosted “SNL” in March 2007. Manning’s appearance was special, as it happened to land on his birthday. To celebrate the occasion, his brother Eli Manning (also a professional football player), brother Cooper, and parents Archie and Olivia briefly made an appearance to wish him a happy birthday.
Date Hosted: March 24, 2007
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Michael Phelps
With eight gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics to his name, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps took the stage and hosted “SNL” in 2008. According to USA Today, the competitive swimmer earned even more gold medals in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics, and he officially retired in August 2016 having made history.
Date Hosted: Sept. 13, 2008
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Eli Manning
Five years after his brother hosted “SNL,” Eli Manning appeared on the sketch show months after his team, the New York Giants, won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.
Date Hosted: May 5, 2012
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John Cena
Actor and WWE pro wrestler John Cena followed in the footsteps of his wrestling predecessors (i.e. Mr. T, Hulk Hogan, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and hosted “SNL” in 2016. Cena launched his career in the spotlight as a professional wrestler in 2001 but is arguably more known for his acting résumé, which includes films like “The Marine,” “Trainwreck,” and “Vacation Friends.”
Date Hosted: Dec. 10, 2016
