Five athletes who would be better Jeopardy! hosts than Aaron Rodgers

On Monday night, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will kick-start the second half of his two-week stint as guest host of the popular quiz show Jeopardy!

The reigning, three-time NFL MVP already turned in a solid first-week performance, as he displayed poise behind the podium and sprinkled in subtle humor throughout each episode.

Many of the show's fans applauded Rodgers during his first week as guest host. Although, some, like eternal critic Skip Bayless, pointed out Rodgers' delivery was a bit mellow.

While the one-time Super Bowl champion has already stated that he would like to become the permanent replacement for beloved host Alex Trebek, who died of pancreatic cancer in November of last year, studio executives may wait until September to name Trebek's successor.

In the meantime, that got us thinking about a few other sports stars who could excel as the face of the long-running TV show. Below are five athletes who would make a better Jeopardy! host than Rodgers.

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick

From one NFL QB to another, Harvard alum and new Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the perfect fit for this quiz competition.

Famously known for achieving one of the highest scores on the Wonderlic test in NFL combine history, Fitzpatrick is not only one of the smartest football players around, but also incredibly charming and goofy.

The journeyman QB is well-liked by teammates because of his witty sense of humor and occasionally makes headlines for his outrageous clothing choices.

The bearded phenom would bring a ton of personality to the set of Jeopardy! and undoubtedly win over fans with his special brand of "FitzMagic."

2. The Rock

Is there anything Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson cannot do? The former defensive tackle, who played behind Warren Sapp on Miami's national championship team, has gone on to succeed in just about every arena of the entertainment industry.

From WWE superstar to Hollywood film star, New York Times best-selling author, and XFL co-owner, the Rock can turn just about anything he touches into gold.

He already dabbled in TV hosting with two different TNT series, The Hero and Wake Up Call, as well as NBC's competition show The Titan Games. The Academy Awards allegedly pegged Johnson as their top choice to host the Oscars in 2019, too, but The Rock's schedule was unsurprisingly all booked up.

One of the most likable current celebrities, The Rock would surely ace his test as a host on Jeopardy! — assuming he has any free time left on his calendar.

3. Serena Williams

As for one of the most marketable female athletes of today, iconic tennis star Serena Williams is clearly comfortable in front of the camera.

The winner of a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams has translated her success in tennis into a lucrative career off the court, as a businesswoman, actress, and in-demand spokesperson.

Her acting résumé includes voice work on The Simpsons and an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender, while she starred in a short-lived ABC Family reality show about the life of her and sister Venus.

Williams also scored guest roles on The Bernie Mac Show, ER, and Law & Order: SVU, and has appeared in myriad commercials, as well as music videos for Beyoncé and rapper Common.

The multifaceted athlete has all the qualities of an ideal game show host. She is intelligent, strong, fashionable, well-spoken, and has a past connection to Jeopardy! as a one-time video clue presenter.

4. Wayne Gretzky

One former athlete who would make a fitting replacement for Trebek is fellow Canadian Wayne Gretzky.

Largely considered the greatest hockey player of all time, "The Great One" became the legend he is today, not because of his size, speed, or power, but his knowledge of the game and hockey IQ.

Trebek, himself, played hockey growing up and went on to narrate a package for the 1967 Stanley Cup, before becoming a world-famous television presenter. A fan of the Red Wings and Canadiens, Trebek also hosted the 1993 NHL Awards and helped the Ottawa Senators select their third overall pick in the 2020 draft.

To honor Trebek's hockey fandom, Gretzky would be an excellent choice as Jeopardy! host.

5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is far more than a decorated athlete. After retiring from basketball, the Airplane! star made a name for himself as an actor, writer, and cultural ambassador for the United States, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

Not only that, Kareem has been a frequent contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy! and competed against the likes of Soledad O'Brien, Reggie Jackson, Martina Navratilova, and David Faber.

One of his most memorable responses on the show came in 2009, when Abdul-Jabbar named himself as an answer, but teammate Bill Walton was the correct reply.

We'll venture to guess Abdul-Jabbar would fare much better behind the host podium.

Walton — a former Stanford law student, basketball commentator, and avid reader — is another solid choice, if Kareem is unavailable.