Through the years, Joe Rogan’s podcast has had an incredible number of top-level athletes from all different sports.
Being that Rogan is a UFC commentator and mixed martial artist himself, the podcast is mostly dominated with fighters. However, there are also world-class athletes from the NFL, race car driving, archery, long-distance running, and powerlifting.
A lot of thought and careful attention was used to put this list together. So, get your popcorn ready and let’s begin unwrapping this list of the greatest athletes to appear on JRE, regardless of sport!
***Also see: The 11 Hottest Women on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
Honorable Mention:
- Kamaru Usman
- Bas Rutten
- Arian Foster
- Stipe Miocic
#20 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
On JRE episode: #1196
Sometimes lost in the shadow of his father, Dale Earnhardt, who was arguably the best race car driver of all time, Junior was a darn good driver himself.
Incredibly, Earnhardt Jr. was NASCAR’s most popular driver for 15 straight years in a row. He won the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014.
Earnhardt ended up retiring in 2017 partly because of the toll racing was taking on his body and suffering from several bad concussions. He is a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee of 2021. Listen to him talk about what it’s like to flip a race car (YouTube).
#19 – Ronda Rousey
On JRE episode: #690
Rousey was on track to be the best female fighter in UFC history, although she abruptly retired after losing her last two fights to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes and finishing with a record of 12-2.
She is the first female fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame and she held the Bantamweight division title for a long time, with six consecutive title defenses. She was so dominant that at one one point people were speculating if she could actually be fighting and beating men.
Rogan said on his podcast that he thinks she is “done” (YouTube), as far as ever coming back to fight, although she does perform in WWE.
#18 – Dan Gable
On JRE Episode: #1627
Dan Gable is arguably the greatest wrestler of all-time. He is a former Olympic gold medalist, 2-time NCAA champion wrestler, and a former wrestling coach.
Although Gable is often spoken of as the greatest wrestler of all-time, he may have been an even better coach. As the head wrestling coach of University of Iowa, he coached 152 All-Americans, 45 National Champions, and won 15 National Championships.
#17 – Lance Armstrong
On JRE episode: #737
What Lance Armstrong did in cycling was remarkable in a sport where everyone was cheating. The main reason he catches so much grief is because of his lying and arrogance.
But say what you want about Armstrong’s integrity, he is an incredible athlete that dominated a sport that was filled with other dopers. The former testicular cancer survivor won the Tour de France a record seven times in a row, from 1999 to 2005.
Check out this JRE video of how brutal the Tour de France (YouTube) is. Peter Attia, a health expert, thinks that cyclists should be allowed to dope and take steroids because of how dangerous the Tour de France is and toll it takes on the body.
***Also see: Top 10 Joe Rogan Podcasts on Space, Aliens, and The Universe
#16 – Demetrious Johnson
On JRE episode: #730, JRE MMA Show: #131
Demetrious Johnson is the GOAT of the UFC flyweight division and widely viewed as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history. Johnson has defended his flyweight title 11 times, a staggering number which just emphasizes his dominance.
Other notable accomplishments are winning the inaugural UFC flyweight championship, 2017 Submission of the Year (World MMA Awards), and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter 2017 Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year.
Johnson no longer fights in the UFC after he was traded to the One Championship for Ben Askren.
#15 – Tony Hawk
On JRE episode: #1477
The godfather of skateboarding, Tony Hawk is credited with bringing exposure to skateboarding and making the sport more available to everyone. He is quite a successful business man as his video games, first releasing in 1999, have been selling for over 20 years.
Going pro in skateboarding at 14 years old, Hawk was the first person to ever land the 900 spin trick (YouTube), which is two and a half spins around (360 + 360 + 180).
Hawk was the first person to ever skateboard at the White House, with permission from Barack Obama on 2009 Fathers Day. He is credited with 64 skateboarding contest victories including numerous at the X Games (1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003).
#14 – Francis Ngannou
JRE MMA Show: #99, #146
Ngannou, the legendary UFC heavyweight from Cameroon, has won one UFC title and has one successful title defense. He is known for having the world record for hardest punch, 129,161 units on a PowerKube, which is the equivalent of getting hit by a Ford Escort.
In the JRE episode with Rogan, Ngannou detailed his life growing up (YouTube) in Cameroon and working in the salt mines.
#13 – David Goggins
On JRE episodes: #1906, #1212, #1080
Goggins, a former Navy SEAL and Army Ranger School graduate, makes this list for his tremendous achievements in ultra-marathon running and numerous first place victories. In 2013, he set the Guinness World Record for most pull-ups – 4,030 in 17 hrs – which was later broken by Truett Hanes.
It seems like episode #1080 is really when Goggins was really introduced to the world. He had been “staying hard” long before that, but getting onto Rogan’s massive platform took his fame to another level.
Also see: David Goggins Diet: Eating For High Performance
#12 – Laird Hamilton
On JRE episode: #1301
One of the best surfers of all time, Hamilton is known for surfing enormous waves, the kind that look like a full pipe is surrounding him.
Hamilton co-invented the art of tow-in surfing, a type of surfing that requires a partner on a jet ski to pull you out ahead of the wave with enough speed so that you can ride it. It revolutionary changed the way professional surfing is done today.
Hamilton’s wife Gabrielle Reece was on Joe Rogan’s podcast as well and she is a beautiful former pro volleyball player and model.
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#11 – Tyson Fury
JRE MMA Show: #47
Fury, a 6ft 9in boxer, is a World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion and known for being one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. His brother Tommy Fury was the first man to beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Although Fury appeared on JRE once, that may be the last time he and Rogan do that. They sparred over social media stemming from a Rogan comment saying, “If Jon Jones and Tyson Fury are locked into a room, I’m pushing all of my chips on black,” regarding a potential MMA fight between Jon Jones and Tyson Fury.
#10 – Evander Holyfield
On JRE MMA Show episode: #80
Standing at 6’2″, Holyfield was a rival of both Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. But he did something that neither of them did – become a champion in two different boxing weight divisions: heavyweight and cruiserweight.
Infamously, Holyfield had a chunk of his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson, which caused the fight to be dubbed “The Bite Fight.” On JRE, he explained how he wanted to bite Tyson back (YouTube).
He is a all-time legend and finished his career with a record of (57 – 10).
In 2017, Holyfield was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, finishing his career with two wins against Mike Tyson, and 1 loss against Lennox Lewis, and was rated as the best cruiserweight boxer of all-time (BoxingScene).
#9 – Courtney Dauwalter
On JRE episode: #1027
Courtney is an ultra-marathon runner who doesn’t just beat women, she demolishes men on the trails. For example, in 2017 she won the MOAB 240, a brutal 240 mile cross-country race, finishing 10 hours ahead of the next person which was a man.
One thing that’s particularly interesting about Courtney is that she doesn’t follow a strict diet, instead feeling free to eat whatever she wants including lots of candy. Also, she runs in baggy clothing including shorts and a t-shirt which is atypical for long distance running.
Growing up she was a very good cross-country runner, as well as cross country skier which she got a scholarship to the University of Denver. She majored in education and became a teacher, and then gave it up to pursue a career in ultra long-distance running instead.
#8 – Lennox Lewis
On JRE episode: #1260
Lewis was a 6’5″ 257-pound heavyweight boxer with a 84-inch reach. He has an unbelievable boxing record (44-2), including a big win against an older Mike Tyson. On JRE, Lewis explained what it is like to be in the ring with Mike Tyson.
Also, Lewis won the 1988 gold medal at the Seoul Olympics and is a 3-time world heavyweight boxing champion. In 2009, he was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
#7 – Chuck Liddell
On JRE episode: #316
View this post on InstagramRise and shine! Catch you on Good Day LA this morning at 9am. Who else is sitting in this awesome traffic?!
Liddell is in the UFC Hall of Fame and has one championship belt in the UFC light heavyweight division. Standing at 6’2″ and 205, Liddell was known for being one of the greatest strikers in MMA history and his devastating knockouts.
Perhaps Liddell is best known for his intense rivalry with Tito Ortiz. Although both fighters retired, they did come back for one last fight against each other in 2018, in which Ortiz won by knockout. Watch Chuck Liddell’s Greatest Highlights (YouTube).
***Also see: The 30 Funniest People on Joe Rogan’s Podcast w/ Honorable Mention
#6 – Ronnie Coleman
On JRE episode: #1489
Coleman is an absolute monster. Rogan said that he used to flip through magazines and think that if Marvel Comics made a superhero to kill the Hulk, then it would be Ronnie Coleman.
Coleman is best known for being a bodybuilder and winning Mr. Olympia 8 times in a row, plus a second-place finish when going for number 9. Maybe they got tired of him winning every year and decided to crown someone else. Although he did take steroids, it was in a sport where steroids are used almost universally.
#5 – Alex Honnold
On JRE episodes: #319, #1189, #1626
Honnold is a rock climber that specializes in a free climbing which means that he climbs with no net and no ropes, just his bare hands! Perhaps, that makes him the most daring athlete of all-time.
Famously, Honnold once free climbed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, being the first human to ever do so without ropes. This entire experience was highlighted in a documentary called Free Solo.
Also, Honnold made a Ted Talk talking about how he climbed a 3,000-foot vertical cliff without ropes (YouTube). He is not just a stuntman, but has incredible upper body strength especially in his forearms hands and fingers.
#4 – Georges St. Pierre
On JRE Episode: #351, JRE MMA Show: #28, #107
St-Pierre is one of the best fighters to ever fight in the UFC. At 28-2, he’s been completely dominant in the welterweight and middleweight divisions and has only lost two times in his entire career.
St. Pierre is a UFC Hall of Famer class of 2020 and owns a trophy case full of UFC records, including most successful title defenses and most consecutive title defenses, totally 9 times in a row. On JRE, Rogan talked about the secret to St. Pierre’s success and his greatest strengths as a fighter.
#3 – Aaron Rodgers
On JRE Episode: #1865
A former Super Bowl champion quarterback for the Green Bay packers, Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest football players of all time. He was named to the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team, along with one other quarterback – Tom Brady.
On episode JRE #1865, Rodgers cleared the air about him not getting the Covid-19 vaccine and instead choosing the route of “immunization”, as well as the rigors and pain that comes with playing in the NFL.
#2 – Jon Jones
On JRE Episode: #880
Jon Jones is the GOAT of the UFC after completely dominating the light-heavyweight division. Later, he successfully made the leap to heavyweight and captured the belt there too. Standing at 6’4″, he captured the light heavyweight belt with a record of 11 successful title defenses.
On episode 880, Jones talked in detail with Rogan about his issues with partying. And on another JRE episode, Rogan mentioned that the one fight he had always hoped would happen would be Jon Jones vs Brock Lesnar (YouTube).
#1 – Mike Tyson
On JRE episode: #1227
Mike Tyson is the number one best athlete on the JRE podcast because he is the pound-for-pound baddest man on the planet. There has never been a better knockout puncher in the history of fighting, in either MMA or boxing, and he often times went up against heavyweights much larger than him.
Although he does not have the best record of all time, (50-6) is still impressive, and at one point in his career he was (37-0) and another (45-1).
Tyson’s record would be a lot better if it wasn’t for his last ten fights when he went 5-5. A lack of focus on his boxing career was the cause, getting caught up in all kinds of various problems: prison sentence, using drugs, adding to his car collection, and even buying pet tigers.
View this post on InstagramThe original #tigerking
***Also see: The 25 Smartest People on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
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