'Dancing With the Stars' Reveals Most Surprising Elimination Yet

It’s time to put the footwork into football.  

Dancing With the Stars is bringing four football icons back to the ballroom in honor of week five’s Super Bowl theme. Indeed, the Oct. 13 episode of the ABC dancing reality competition series will feature former NFL stars—who previously competed on DWTS—showing off their dance moves once again as well as a special guest judge from the sports world.

As the show’s companion podcast host and season 34 alum Andy Richter revealed on the Oct. 8 episode, Dallas Cowboys alum Emmitt Smith, former Green Bay Packers player Donald Driver, ex-Cowboys star DeMarcus Ware and former New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola will be making guest appearances on Dancing With the Stars—and they will even be performing.

Smith has been a part of the DWTS franchise for decades, winning the third season with pro partner Cheryl Burke. The NFL legend returned years later for Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars in 2012, where he came in fourth place.

But Smith isn’t the only returning champion. After all, Driver also won his respective season, taking home the Mirrorball Trophy in season 14 with partner Peta Murgatroyd.

As for Ware, the ex-NFL linebacker competed on the 27th season of DWTS in 2018, where he came in seventh place with Lindsay Arnold.

And DWTS can’t forget Amendola, who appeared on season 33 alongside pro Witney Carson. The pair made it to the finals, ultimately placing fifth.

Along with the football icons, another prominent figure in sports will be joining Super Bowl night: Monday Night Football announcer Joe Buck. While he won’t be putting on his dancing shoes, the commentator will be joining the judges panel alongside Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, according to Good Morning America. 

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As for what viewers can expect to see from the contestants? Well, Super Bowl night is surely going to deliver some jaw-dropping performances. After all, the remaining 11 pairs will be honoring legendary Super Bowl halftime shows by dancing to songs by previous big game headliners, including Shakira, Usher and Bad Bunny.

One pairing who can’t wait to take the dance floor? Jenna Dewan and her pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy, who will be performing a Paso Doble to “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga.

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“Lady Gaga is iconic [and] that Super Bowl performance was so iconic,” Chmerkovskiy shared on the DWTS podcast Oct. 8. “I think she leans into the creativity of the performance, and so, we’ll get weird. We’ll get Paso, but we’ll get weird and really put on the show.”

To see the other pairs who will be huddling up for Super Bowl night, keep reading…

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Julia Stiles & Ezra Sosa

You won't hate this news—the 10 Things I Hate About You star will be saving the last dance for her pro partner.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Giada De Laurentiis & Alan Bersten

Cha-cha-chopping away... The celebrity chef will be turning up the heat this season.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Harry Shum Jr. & Jenna Johnson

What did you miss on Glee? The actor taking his musical talents to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Taylor Hanson & Britt Stewart

The former '90s teen heartthrob will hope to MMMBop his way to the top of the leaderboard on season 35.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tatyana Ali & Jan Ravnik

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress will be bringing her fresh moves to the dance floor.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jenna Dewan & Val Chmerkovskiy

Twenty years after starring in Step Up, the dancer is stepping up to the challenge.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Amber Glenn & Pasha Pashkov

The 2026 Olympic figure skater will take her skills from the ice to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ezra Frech & Daniella Karagach

The Team USA Paralympic track and field athlete will show off his athleticism on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Sarah Jane Nader & Hailey Bills

After sister Brooks Nader competed on season 33, the Love Thy Nader star is trying her hand.

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Disney/Andrew Eccles

Connor Wood & Rylee Arnold

The comedian, also known as Fibula on social media, is ready to earn more applause on DWTS.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Conner Leavitt & Adele Zaikman

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is following in the footsteps of wife Whitney Leavitt—who competed on season 34.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Tyler Cameron & Sharna Burgess

The Bachelor Nation star is trading in roses for rumbas.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Jackson Olson & Emma Slater

The Savannah Bananas baseball player is stepping up to the plate, bringing his dance moves from the diamond to the ballroom.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Guillermo Rodriguez & Witney Carson

The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star is ready to learn some new moves.

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Ciara Miller & Brandon Armstrong

The Summer House star is prepping for her turn in the ballrom. 

"Looks are not indicative of being in shape," Ciara exclusively told E! News in June. "I do huff and puff going up the stairs, so I gotta get back into the gym and work on my stamina."

Disney/Andrew Eccles

Maura Higgins & Mark Ballas

The Love Island UK alum is hoping her love for DWTS doesn't betray her as she manifested this experience.

"I have a vision board and I redo it every year," she told E! News in May. "This year is the first year that I stayed at home by myself on New Year's Eve. I did not go out at all. I made myself a bowl of pasta and a glass of red wine and I redid my vision board for the year. Dancing With the Stars was already on it from the year before. However, I added five more Dancing With the Stars on the board."

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