We’re baaaaack! So we’ve discussed the most random athlete cameos in movies, but do you know what’s even more random? Athlete cameos in music videos.

When music and sports collide, it’s the best of both worlds. So let’s toss on the CD’s, sit back, and enjoy. 

Warning: Most of these are going to give you a major nostalgic trip to Y2K.

 

7. Various Athletes, Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie and the Blowfish

We’re going to be honest, there are too many athletes in this video to list them in a header. Welcome to Y2K music videos! 

While Dan Marino, Fred Couples, Alonza Mourning, Muggsy Bogues, Alex English, Walt Williams and Charles Smith were able to star within one of the band’s video for their biggest single, you can also catch some of your favourite ESPN anchors! 

Our favourite part of the video you may ask? Hands down Marino’s unmatched acting skills when Darius Rucker fumbles the bag on a Marino pass. We’re positive Ace Venture would have had that one.

 

6. Various Athletes, 2 Legit 2 Quit by MC Hammer

Yet again, there were too many athletes in this video to put them in our header.

If you just look past the flashing lights and try not to blink for a second, you may just be able to catch each athlete in this order:

José Canseco, Isaiah Thomas, Kirby Puckett, Jerry Rice, Rickey Henderson, Deion Sanders, Andre Rison, Chris Mullin, Roger Clemens, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, Lynette Woodward, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, David Robinson, and Jerry Glanville. 

While the video screams 1990s with the fast lights, dress suits, and sunglasses, there’s also some fun little cameos by these stars.

(Fun little easter egg!)

Multiple sources online have Wayne Gretzky apart of the all star cast but we can’t seem to find him so keep an eye out to see if you can.

 
 

6. Shaq & Mike Tyson, Bad Boy for Life by P. Diddy

If you’re a celebrity and weren’t invited to be in this video, you must have had major FOMO. Literally, everyone was in it.   

Shaq playing pickup basketball with some guys in Perfectown, USA while Mike Tyson rides in on a motorcycle screams early 2000’s music video production. 

Beyond that, you can spot Ben Stiller, Ice Cube, Xhibit, Travis Barker, as well as many other celebrities. 
 

5. Odell Beckham Jr., Marshan Lynch & Kevin Durant, Laugh Now Cry Later by Drake

Welcome to the only video on this list from after 2010!
Oh to be hanging out at Nike World Headquarters at midnight and playing some pick up with Durant and some long toss with Beckham Jr. and Lynch. Oh and good ol’ Toronto native Drake, of course.

Though we wouldn’t want to be getting sacked by Marshawn Lynch, that part we can gladly pass on.

The cameos and brand partnerships in this video are actually kind of giving us a throwback vibe to when both athletes and brands like K-Swiss would be dropped in a hip hop music video in the mid 2000s. I think you get it, we’re obsessed.

  
  

4.  Danika Patrick & Dale Earnhardt Jr., Show Me What You Got by Jay-Z

Did 2006 even happen if there wasn’t a music video that started off like a fast and furious movie?

There’s just something about seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jay-Z racing and getting lapped by Danika Patrick in the streets of Monaco that makes this cameo so amazing.

Honorable mention: Danika Patrick playing a getaway driver in Miranda Lambert’s Fastest Girl in Town video.

 
  

3. Michael Jordan, Jam by Michael Jackson

We’re going to start this one off by acknowledging Michael Jordan honestly just owned the sports world and even pop culture in the 1990s so it’s no surprise he’d star in a music video beside another talented Michael.

Jackson vs. Jordan one on one game is legendary in itself, 

One on hand we have Michael Jordan teaching Michael Jackson how to play basketball complete with Michael Jordan giving Michael Jackson a piggyback. On another we have Michael Jackson giving Michael Jordan dance lessons.

There’s a lot going on and we’re still trying to process it to this day.
 

 

2. Julius Peppers, Hot in Herre by Nelly

This may just be the funniest cameo on our list because it’s almost as if Pepper’s was trying to hide from the camera.

Prior to even making his debut in the league, Pepper’s was able to rock a LA Lakers jersey and ride shotgun alongside Nelly in his most popular song. It’s funny because you’d typically think you’d debut in some sort of video after you’ve been successful in the league but leave it to Julius to break those walls down for us.

We’re disappointed to see him appear without the signature Nelly bandage on his upper cheek but we digress. 
  

(Skip to 1:34)

 

It’s also worth noting that when the two reunited in 2018 prior to Nelly’s halftime performance.

 

1. Wayne Gretzky, Rockstar by Nickelback 
If you didn’t think we were going to crown the number one spot to The Great One himself, then do we have news for you.  

What’s better and more crazy than having Canada’s sweethearts Nickelback feature good ol’ 99 alongside Kid Rock, Gene Simmons, Nelly Furtado, and Dale Erinheart Jr. alongside a large group of well known celebrities.

What makes it crazier? That the Naked Cowboy from Times Square was featured in a music video alongside one of the best hockey players of all time.

This video just gives us pure 2007 nostalgia and we are eating it all up.

Click here to watch 99's cameo.

Conclusion

While writing this article, we realized that athlete x music video cameos were a huge fad of the 90s/2000s. A general theme within many videos was to have the most outrageous people appear in your music video and more times than not, these people were athletes. About if athletes starred in music videos more often today’s music videos? Imagine an Auston Matthews cameo in one of Justin Bieber’s next music videos? Honestly, we’re down for it.