SkimIt
Football players aren't usually known for their acting or comedy skills. Actually, they're usually not even very good public speakers. But that hasn't stopped Saturday Night Live from inviting some big NFL stars to host the show over the years. In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl, we take a look back at some of the best and worst guest jocks on SNL.
BEST:
Carl Weathers, January 30, 1988
Before becoming an actor, Carl Weathers was a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders. He also played with the Canadian Football League -- a fact which he made fun of in his SNL monologue. He went on to poke fun at Rocky, his most popular film, stating, "Only in a movie could a white man beat a black man who was bigger, stronger, faster and a better fighter!" After SNL, people started realizing how funny Weathers was, and he went on to star in comedies such as Happy Gilmore, Little Nicky and the TV series Arrested Development.
Tom Brady, April 16, 2004
Turns out Tom Brady isn't just a multiple-Super Bowl quarterback and a pretty face -- he's actually pretty funny, too. Everyone loves a celebrity who can make fun of himself, and Brady did just that in an SNL sketch called "Why Tom Brady?," where SNL actors dressed as other popular football players with even better football stats than Brady questioned why they weren't invited to host the show instead.
Peyton Manning, March 24, 2007
Who knew Peyton Manning could be so hilarious? Manning unflinchingly followed in the grand tradition of celebrities throwing caution to the wind and making fools of themselves (in a good way) on SNL. He danced like the rhythm-less white guy that he is, he threw footballs at the heads of small children, and basically did everything he could to put a giant crack in his "perfect" image. And it was a smashing success.
WORST:
O.J. Simpson, February 25, 1978
Maybe this should have been a hint that something wasn't quite right with O.J. Simpson. His turn at hosting an episode in season three of SNL was so strange that over 30 years later, people are still talking about it. One of the most memorable parts of the episode? Simpson delivering his monologue while inexplicably wearing a Coneheads cone on his head.
John Madden, January 30, 1982
Though John Madden didn't do anything to distinguish himself as a terrible SNL host, he didn't do anything to distinguish himself as a good host, either. He basically played versions of himself in most sketches, such as "Loser's Locker Room," where he interviewed a losing team post-game. The SNL regulars, including Eddie Murphy, had to step up and work overtime to make up for Madden's lack of comedic timing and charisma.
Deion Sanders, February 18, 1995
Deion Sanders is a pretty incredible athlete -- he not only earned two Super Bowl wins and a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he also played professional baseball! But he really should have stuck to sports, as his stint hosting SNL was just plain awful. The lowest point? Sanders attempting to rap alongside Adam Sandler and Tim Meadows during an unfunny sketch called "Simple Rappers."
