Shane Gillis, the comedian and host of the 2025 ESPY Awards, didn’t hold back during his opening monologue at the star-studded event held on July 16 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Known for his edgy humor, Gillis took aim at NFL coach Bill Belichick and his much younger girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who has a staggering 48-year age gap with the 73-year-old football legend.
Gillis kicked off the evening with a playful jab at Belichick’s relationship, referencing the recent gambling scandal involving Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter. “Shohei is a once-in-a-generation talent. No one has been able to do what he does at so many positions: pitcher, hitter, and bookie. A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the audience.
After the initial chuckles, Gillis continued, “First off, he’s 73 years old and he’s dating a hot 24-year-old, and people are criticizing him. What happened to this country? We used to be a great country. He won six Super Bowls. He’s dating a hot 24-year-old. Maybe if you guys won six Super Bowls, you wouldn’t be sitting next to a fat ugly dog wife.” While some audience members reacted with laughter, others seemed taken aback, prompting Gillis to backtrack and express that he might have gone too far.
The comedian didn’t stop at Belichick; he also targeted Aaron Rodgers, poking fun at the quarterback’s controversial stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. “Aaron Rodgers did not take the vaccine because he thought it would be bad for him, and then he joined the New York Jets. Maybe he wasn’t right about everything,” Gillis joked, once again mixing sports commentary with humor.
After his monologue, Gillis acknowledged the mixed reactions from the crowd, stating, “Well, I can see a lot of you do not like me, and that’s OK. That went about as well as we all thought it was going to go.”
The 2025 ESPYs marked Gillis’ debut as host, a role he was excited to take on. ESPN announced his selection in June, praising him as one of the top comedians today and a huge sports fan. “Shane is not only one of the top comedians today but also a huge sports fan, which made him an easy choice to host the ESPYs,” said Craig Lazarus, ESPN’s vice president and executive producer of the ESPYs. “We are thrilled to work with him to create an entertaining show celebrating this year’s best moments in sports.”
In the lead-up to the event, Gillis shared insights into his preparations, noting the unique challenges of hosting an awards show where jokes are often written by others. “I’ve never done a thing where it’s somebody else writing jokes, and they hired writers and they’re like, ‘Here’s the jokes,’ and they’re, like, self-deprecating for me,” he explained during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Despite the controversies, Gillis expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, “I’m excited to be at the ESPYs this year. I like sports, so this should be a good time.”
As the night unfolded, the audience was treated to a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, showcasing the best in sports while providing a platform for Gillis to flex his comedic chops. With his unique blend of sports knowledge and humor, Gillis aimed to make the 2025 ESPYs a memorable occasion for both attendees and viewers at home.
The event also celebrated the biggest names in sports, with athletes stepping off the field and onto the red carpet. Stars like Maksim Chmerkovskiy were among the first to arrive, showcasing their style and excitement for the evening ahead.
Overall, the 2025 ESPY Awards promised to be an entertaining night filled with laughter, recognition, and a few unexpected moments, all under the comedic lens of Shane Gillis. Whether loved or critiqued, Gillis made it clear that he was there to entertain, and he did just that.