The 2025 ESPYS are approaching, and a comedian will be at center stage.
Shane Gillis will host the 2025 ESPY Awards, which celebrate the past year in sports. The show will take place Wednesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local) at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
‘I’m excited to be at The ESPYS this year,’ Gillis said in a statement. ‘I like sports so this should be a good time.’
Gillis will be the first non-athlete to host the show since 2021 when actor Anthony Mackie had the duty. However, the creator and star of the Netflix show ‘Tires’ is an avid 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 ESPN vice president and ESPYS executive producer Craig Lazarus.’
Recruited by Army and a former walk-on at Elon University, Gillis is an avid Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan. In fact, he actually had a infamous moment on ESPN as a result.
The comedian was the celebrity guest-picker on ‘College GameDay’ ahead of the College Football Playoff first round matchup between Notre Dame and Indiana on Dec. 20 at Notre Dame Stadium. During the show, Gillis made a slight dig at show analyst and former Alabama coach Nick Saban. He said the Fighting Irish now had a chance at winning since athletes could be paid and it’s ‘not just the SEC and not Coach Saban’ doing it.
When it came time for the show’s game picks, Gillis’ comments were brought up, and the comedian doubled down on his take, which appeared to anger Saban. After the show, Gillis mentioned how Saban seemed actually upset with him.
It made for entertaining TV, but let’s hope Gillis vs. Saban doesn’t happen again at the ESPYS.
2025 ESPY Awards: Date, time, how to watch
- Date: Wednesday, July 16
- Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
- Location: The Dolby Theatre (Los Angeles)
- TV: ABC
- Stream:ESPN+
Watch the 2025 ESPY Awards on ESPN+
ESPYS host history
Gillis will be the host of the 33rd ESPY Awards. Here is everyone that has hosted the event:
- 2024: Serena Williams
- 2023: None
- 2022: Steph Curry
- 2021: Anthony Mackie
- 2020: Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird
- 2019: Tracy Morgan
- 2018: Danica Patrick
- 2017: Peyton Manning
- 2016: John Cena
- 2015: Joel McHale
- 2014: Drake
- 2013: Jon Hamm
- 2012: Rob Riggle
- 2011: Seth Myers
- 2010: Seth Myers
- 2009: Samuel L. Jackson
- 2008: Justin Timberlake
- 2007: LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel
- 2006: Lance Armstrong
- 2005: Matthew Perry
- 2004: Jaime Foxx
- 2003: Jaime Foxx
- 2002: Samuel L. Jackson
- 2001: Samuel L. Jackson
- 2000: Jimmy Smits
- 1999: Samuel L. Jackson
- 1998: Norm Macdonald
- 1997: Jeff Foxworthy
- 1996: Tony Danza
- 1995: John Goodman
- 1994: Dennis Miller
- 1993: Dennis Miller
