Marcello Hernández Roasts Tiger Woods, Bill Belichick and More During 2026 ESPYs Monologue
Marcello Hernández wasted no time setting the tone for the 2026 ESPYs, opening the annual awards show with a rapid-fire monologue packed with jokes aimed at some of the biggest names in sports.
The Saturday Night Live comedian took the stage Wednesday night at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City, delivering a roughly 10-minute opening that mixed playful jabs with lighthearted commentary about athletes, coaches and headline-making personalities.
From golf legends to NBA stars, Hernández made it clear that no one in the sports world was completely off-limits.
Tiger Woods and Bill Belichick Become Major Punchlines
Some of the night’s biggest laughs came when Hernández turned his attention to Tiger Woods.
During the monologue, he joked that Woods would appear on the cover of the next Grand Theft Auto video game, referencing Woods’ highly publicized March arrest following a DUI-related rollover crash.
The audience also reacted when Hernández shifted to Bill Belichick, making a joke about the longtime football coach’s relationship with Jordon Hudson.
He quipped that when the New York Knicks last won the NBA Finals 53 years ago, Belichick was the same age Hudson is today.
The joke was presented for comedic effect, and Hernández himself acknowledged that the math did not actually line up.
Jake Paul and Jalen Brunson Also Get Mentioned
Hernández kept the jokes coming by taking aim at Jake Paul.
The comedian joked about Paul’s tendency to fight older opponents, a remark that appeared to amuse the boxer, who was shown laughing during the show.
Jalen Brunson also found himself part of the routine, with Hernández jokingly referencing the NBA star as a “nepo baby.”
The comment was delivered in a playful tone rather than as criticism, fitting the lighthearted style of the evening.
No Shortage of Sports Targets
Beyond individual athletes, Hernández broadened his routine to include jokes about the WNBA, adding another major sports organization to the list of playful targets.
The monologue followed the familiar awards-show formula of roasting recognizable figures while celebrating the accomplishments that brought them to the event.
By the time Hernández wrapped up his opening remarks, he had touched on multiple corners of the sports world, from basketball and boxing to golf and football.
One Headline He Didn’t Mention
Despite the wide range of topics, one major celebrity story was notably absent.
Hernández did not reference the reported wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, a headline that has dominated entertainment news in recent days.
Whether the omission was intentional or simply a creative choice wasn’t explained during the show.
Why the Monologue Stood Out
Opening monologues have long been a staple of the ESPYs, giving hosts an opportunity to entertain while gently poking fun at athletes and the stories that have defined the past year.
Hernández leaned into that tradition, delivering a performance that balanced sports references with pop culture moments and drew laughs from many of the stars seated inside the theater.
While not every joke landed equally with every viewer, the routine succeeded in creating conversation before the night’s awards were handed out.
A Lighthearted Start to Sports’ Biggest Night
For Hernández, hosting the ESPYs meant walking the fine line between honoring athletic achievements and keeping the audience entertained.
His opening monologue accomplished exactly that, offering playful jokes about some of sports’ biggest personalities while setting the stage for an evening celebrating the year’s standout performances.
