Dancing With the Stars is bringing football and ballroom dancing together for a special episode, with four former NFL players returning to the show and sports broadcaster Joe Buck taking a seat at the judges’ table. The upcoming “Super Bowl Night” episode, scheduled for October 13, will celebrate some of the most memorable musical performances in Super Bowl history.
The announcement promises a reunion for fans who remember the football stars’ previous appearances on the ABC competition. According to E! News, former NFL players Emmitt Smith, Donald Driver, DeMarcus Ware and Danny Amendola will all make guest appearances during the themed episode. The four athletes will also perform, giving viewers another opportunity to see how their ballroom skills have evolved since their original seasons.
Smith, a Dallas Cowboys legend, has a particularly impressive history with the show. He won Season 3 in 2006 alongside professional dancer Cheryl Burke, becoming one of the competition’s early celebrity champions. He later returned for the 2012 all-star edition, finishing in fourth place.
Driver, a former Green Bay Packers wide receiver, also knows what it takes to win the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. He claimed the Season 14 title in 2012 with professional partner Peta Murgatroyd. His return offers a chance to revisit one of the show’s memorable athlete victories.
Ware competed in Season 27 in 2018, partnering with Lindsay Arnold. The former Dallas Cowboys linebacker finished seventh, while Amendola appeared on Season 33 in 2024 with professional dancer Witney Carson. The former New England Patriots wide receiver reached the finale and finished fifth.
Alongside the returning athletes, Joe Buck will join regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Buck, best known for his work as an ESPN Monday Night Football commentator, will bring his sports-broadcasting experience to the judging panel. He is also scheduled to call Super Bowl LXI in February 2027, when ABC and ESPN will broadcast the game.
The choice of Buck has already sparked discussion among fans. Some viewers questioned why former Dancing With the Stars co-host and sports reporter Erin Andrews was not selected for the guest judging role. Andrews previously co-hosted the show with Tom Bergeron before both departed in 2020. However, no official explanation has been given for choosing Buck over Andrews.
The episode will also feature performances inspired by iconic Super Bowl halftime shows. The remaining 11 celebrity couples will dance to music associated with artists including Shakira, Usher, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Among the scheduled routines, Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy will perform a paso doble to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” while Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov will dance a samba to J Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente.”
“Super Bowl Night” will air Tuesday, October 13, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with the episode available on Hulu the following day. With familiar champions returning, a special guest judge and performances inspired by some of the biggest halftime shows, the episode is shaping up to be a major event in Season 35.
Source: Compiled from various sources
