J.J. Watt Isn’t Alone: When Sports Stars Host Saturday Night Live

The NBA legend hosted the show in 1991, five years before he went on to star in Space Jam.

The pro wrestler-turned-professional actor hosted an episode in 2016.

The UFC champ-turned-pro wrestler stopped by to host a 2016 episode.

The defensive tackle had long-since retired from the NFL when he hosted a 1985 episode of SNL. In fact, he was two years into a starring role on ABC sitcom Webster when he took the gig.

The MLB player-turned-play-by-play announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers hosted a 1984 episode, a year before taking a starring role on ABC sitcom Mr. Belvedere.

The first female athlete to earn a hosting invite from SNL, the iconic tennis pro hosted an episode in 1989.

The late owner of the New York Yankees stopped by to host an episode of another NYC institution in 1990.

The pro wrestler-turned-Hollywood superstar has hosted a total of five times, twice, in 2000 and 2002 when he was still going by just The Rock, and three additional times, as recently as 2017, credited under his birth name.

Well before the NBA icon was appearing in films like Trainwreck and the upcoming Space Jam 2, he hosted an episode of SNL in 2007.

Three years before his death in 1989, MLB star and five-time manager of the New York Yankees Billy Martin hosted the 12th season finale, helping facilitate a cliffhanger that saw much of the cast imperiled after he set the dressing room on fire. After Lorne Michaels saved only Jon Lovitz, the words “WHO WILL SURVIVE? TUNE IN OCT. 11” were superimposed on the screen.

The retired NFL quarterback spent his 31st birthday in 2007 as host of the show. The gig came a month after he led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, his first championship win.

The retired New York Giants quarterback followed in big bro’s footsteps when he hosted a 2012 episode.

The retired pro tennis player became the first male player and only second ever to host when he took the gig in 2003.

The former Boston Celtics center hosted the show in 1979.

Years before becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons, the NFL running back hosted the show in 1978, a year before he retired from the sport.

The Olympic freestyle skier, who took home a gold medal in the 1998 Nagano games, hosted the show in 2002.

The former New York Yankees shortstop appeared as host in 2001.

The now-retired NASCAR driver hosted the show in 2003.

Not only did the retired pro football and baseball player host an episode of the show in 1995 following his first Super Bowl victory with the San Francisco 48ers, but he also treated the audience to a medley of songs off his debut 1994 album Prime Time.

The New England Patriots quarterback, the winningest in NFL history, stopped by to host SNL in 2005.

The former Oakland Raiders coach and NFL color commentator hosted the show in 1982.

The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback hosted SNL in 1977

The one-time Chicago Bears running back, who passed away in 1999 at 45 from cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile duct), co-hosted a 1987 episode alongside fellow NFL player Joe Montana.

The iconic former San Francisco 49ers quarterback co-hosted in 1987 alongside fellow NFL star Walter Payton.

The famed NFL star hosted an episode in 1989, becoming the first and only hockey player to ever do so.

The pro wrestler-turned-reality TV star co-hosted a 1985 episode alongside Mr. T.

The boxing legend hosted an episode of the show in 1994.

The ionic Olympic ice skating silver medalist hosted a 1994 episode of SNL that featured Aretha Franklin as musical guest.

The former competitive swimmer and record holder for most Olympic gold medals hosted the season 34 premiere in 2008.

Beginning in 1993, the iconic NBA power forward has hosted SNL a total of four times, most recently in 2018.

The disgraced cyclist hosted a 2005 episode of the show that featured then-fiancée Sheryl Crow as musical guest.

The Houston Texans defensive end makes his hosting debut on February 1, 2020.