Joe Buck to Judge 'Dancing With the Stars' Super Bowl Night

ESPN announcer Joe Buck is set to make a surprise appearance on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" as a guest judge for a special Super Bowl-themed episode. The program will feature contestants performing routines inspired by iconic halftime shows from past Super Bowls.

Buck, the Monday Night Football play-by-play announcer, will join regular judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough. This collaboration highlights the synergy between ESPN and ABC, both owned by The Walt Disney Company, as they prepare to broadcast Super Bowl LXI from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

This marks ABC's first Super Bowl broadcast in over 20 years, with the last being Super Bowl XL. For ESPN, it is a significant moment as the network will broadcast the NFL championship game for the first time in its 47-year history.

The partnership extends beyond the broadcast booth, with "Dancing With the Stars" having a history of featuring NFL players. Past champions from the league include Emmitt Smith, Hines Ward, Donald Driver, and Rashad Jennings. Danny Amendola was the most recent NFL participant, appearing in Season 33.

The crossover event is part of a broader promotional effort by Disney across its networks, with commercials for the Super Bowl featuring both ESPN personalities and Disney characters.