Jon Hamm Set to Host NFL Honors, Celebrates Friendship with Bad Bunny
Emmy-winning actor Jon Hamm is preparing to take the stage as host of the NFL Honors on Thursday night in San Francisco, marking the 15th anniversary of the league's annual awards ceremony. The event, airing on NBC and NFL Network, serves as a capstone to the football season just days before the Super Bowl.
From Humble Beginnings to Milestone Celebration
Hamm first attended the NFL Honors when the show was still finding its footing, a relatively new addition to Super Bowl week that had yet to fully define its identity. "They didn't really know what it was going to be, but it was fun," Hamm said Wednesday after rehearsals at the Palace of Fine Arts, recalling how he enjoyed watching Alec Baldwin host the inaugural ceremony in 2012.
Now, the award show has evolved into a significant event that players across the league anticipate. "It's nice for them to get celebrated the way they should," Hamm noted, emphasizing that the night provides a rare opportunity for athletes to gather with their peers. "They're in a room with their peers. Everybody knows everybody," he said, highlighting how players only compete in 17 or 18 games each season.
A Host with Experience and Football Passion
Hamm brings extensive hosting experience to the role, having previously led shows ranging from Saturday Night Live to the ESPYs. However, he emphasized that the NFL Honors requires a specific approach. "We're not trying to break new ground in comedy or make anything that's going to offend anybody," said Hamm, who won a 2015 Primetime Emmy for his portrayal of Don Draper on AMC's Mad Men.
A lifelong football fan, Hamm grew up in St. Louis following the Cardinals and Rams before later rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. Hosting the ceremony means stepping back from team allegiances. "It's not about one team," Hamm said. "It's about honoring the season." He pointed to standout individual achievements that deserve recognition, such as Myles Garrett breaking the sack record, noting that such accomplishments should be celebrated even if those players aren't competing in the Super Bowl.
Praising Bad Bunny and Cultural Moments
Beyond football, Hamm said Super Bowl week reflects larger cultural moments, including the rise of global music stars like Bad Bunny. The Puerto Rican superstar is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show after winning album of the year at the Grammys for his all Spanish-language project Debí Tirar Más Fotos.
"I was happy to see his success at the Grammys," said Hamm, who attended Bad Bunny's historic residency in 2025. The two have become friends and share the same birthday. "He was beautifully eloquent. He's a very intelligent guy. He's a wonderful artist, number one streamed artist in the world for a reason," Hamm praised. "He's smart enough to realize that engagement is the key. So I applaud him as an artist and as a fellow Pisces and a fellow March 10 birthday man. He's a good dude."
The Appetizer Before the Main Event
As the NFL Honors celebrate their milestone year, Hamm said the night is ultimately about bringing people together before the Super Bowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. He described the ceremony as a gathering point during the week, calling it "the appetizer" that sets the tone for the championship game.
"We're here to celebrate the players and their season and then push everybody into a good mood," Hamm explained. "I think it's going to be a pretty good Super Bowl." With his hosting expertise and genuine enthusiasm for both football and the cultural significance of the event, Hamm aims to make the 15th NFL Honors a memorable celebration of athletic achievement and entertainment.
