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While perhaps not exactly true, the idea that public speaking is a more popular fear than death itself is oft repeated.
Even some of the most famous people in the world aren’t immune to the condition known as “glossophobia” (the feat of public speaking), as three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes recently revealed — in an interview with Time after being named to their annual 100 Most Influential People in the World List — that he turned down the opportunity to host Saturday Night Live due to the “fear” he has of reading off a teleprompter.
Now, it’s not like Mahomes is afraid of speaking in public in general, as he’s done hundreds of press conferences and a fair share of Super Bowl parade speeches, too, so Mahomes isn’t necessarily afraid of speaking in public, but rather, reading in public.
“Mahomes has ambitions beyond football too. He wants, for example, to host Saturday Night Live before he’s done. The show inquired about his interest after this season, he says, but he doesn’t think he’s ready. He’s still scarred from a bad experience at the ESPYs a few years ago. ‘I have a little bit of a fear with the teleprompter,’ he says. And the SNL monologue especially involves reading a script, though the show uses cue cards rather than electronics.” [via Time Magazine]
Maybe in order to help him become more comfortable with being funny on camera, his teammate Travis Kelce can have Mahomes on his podcast and teach him a thing or two about hosting SNL, which Kelce did in March 2023.
In the history of Saturday Night Live, 35 athletes have served as hosts, with the latest being Kelce last year. The other athletes/coaches to host the iconic sketch comedy show are:
Fran Tarkenton, OJ Simpson, Bill Russell, John Madden, Bob Uecker, Alex Karras, Mr. T, Hulk Hogan, Marvin Hagler, Billy Martin, Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Carl Weathers, Wayne Gretzky, Chris Evert, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Nancy Kerrigan, George Foreman, Deion Sanders, The Rock, Derek Jeter, Jonny Moseley, Jeff Gordon, Andy Roddick, Tom Brady, Lance Armstrong, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Michael Phelps, Eli Manning, Ronda Rousey, John Cena, JJ Watt, and Travis Kelce.
The gold standard of an athlete being comfortable on camera is probably Peyton Manning, whose comedic timing has not only made him a successful SNL host but also the perfect commercial actor for the brands he works with. Since retiring from the NFL, Manning has, among other things, embarked on a booming media career thanks to his production company Omaha Productions.