DWTS Adds Joe Buck as Guest Judge for Super Bowl Night

Dancing with the Stars will feature its first Super Bowl Night on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster Joe Buck joining the judges panel and 11 remaining couples performing routines inspired by Super Bowl halftime shows.

According to goodmorningamerica.com, Buck will appear alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli as a guest judge for the themed episode. The show airs on ABC and streams on Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET.

According to pnj.com, the special episode will also bring back NFL figures including Emmitt Smith, Donald Driver, DeMarcus Ware and Danny Amendola for appearances in the ballroom. The event comes ahead of Super Bowl LXI, scheduled for Feb. 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The remaining 11 couples will perform dances set to songs associated with major Super Bowl halftime performances, according to multiple reports. The announced routines include salsa, samba, jazz, tango and paso doble performances.

Goodmorningamerica.com reported that Joe Buck is in his 29th season calling NFL games and became known nationally after beginning a full NFL broadcast schedule with FOX Sports during the 1994-95 season. He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2022.

His broadcasting career has also included coverage of 24 World Series, 22 MLB All-Star games and five U.S. Opens in golf, according to ESPN information cited by goodmorningamerica.com.

Pnj.com reported that Emmitt Smith is returning to the ballroom after previously competing on Dancing with the Stars. The Pro Football Hall of Famer won season three of the competition in 2006 with partner Cheryl Burke.

The episode follows the elimination of Ciara Miller and Brandon Armstrong during Mariah Carey Night on Oct. 6, according to northjersey.com. Season 35 continues with weekly Tuesday broadcasts, with the finale scheduled for Nov. 24, 2026.