Deion Sanders bombing on SNL after Super Bowl win with 49ers remains one of the most cringe performances by an NFL star
Deion Sanders won his first Super Bowl ring in January 1995 with the San Francisco 49ers. Weeks later, he was hosting "Saturday Night Live" in New York City, and unfortunately, his performance didn't live up to the hype that it received beforehand.
Did Deion Sanders foreshadow his job at Colorado nearly 28 years ago during his SNL monologue??!! #cubuffs https://t.co/1Xwz9su8d5
Sanders' jokes were quite flat and didn't get the crowd's roar as many hosts receive. Instead of being fun, he took the entire opportunity a bit too seriously. He also used his SNL hosting duties as an opportunity to promote his music.
For those that weren't aware, Deion Sanders released his rap album "Primed" in 1995. He performed two songs off the album on "Saturday Night Live," which left viewers even more perplexed. The songs, entitled "Must Be the Money" and "Heidi Heidi Hey," had cameo appearances from other SNL cast members, including comedian Adam Sandler.
His performance on "Saturday Night Live" is still seen today as one of the worst guest hosts in the series' history.
But for Sanders, his career hasn't transitioned into the entertainment industrybut into coaching. He is now the head coach of the University of Colorado football team.
Besides Deion Sanders, which other NFL players have hosted SNL?
Hosting "Saturday Night Live" is an honor for anyone, not just those in the entertainment industry. In fact, some of the best hosts to grace the stage at 30 Rock have been professional athletes.
The tradition of having NFL players host SNL dates back to 1977 when former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton became the first to do so. Broadcasting legend and NFL coach John Madden took to the SNL stage in 1982, which helped him create a place in broadcasting.
In 1987, Joe Montana and Walter Payton became one of the show's only twosomes to take on the hosting duties. In 2005, now seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady tried his hand at hosting the late-night show. At the time, Brady had only three Super Bowl rings and was still in his 20s.
Peyton Manning hosted SNL in 2007 and then made a cameo in 2022 during one of the show's skits. Peyton has always been a fan favorite with his sense of humor and ability to create new characters. His younger brother Eli has also hosted the show, doing so in 2012.
Peyton Manning… big Emily in Paris guy.
(via @nbcsnl) https://t.co/lDUPdiIvqC
The most recent NFL player to host Saturday NIght was Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt, who hosted the show in February 2020.