Will Ferrell Reprises Ron Burgundy Anchorman Role to Roast Tom Brady

A special guest made a surprise appearance at Netflix’s live Tom Brady roast on Sunday, May 5.

Among the stars and comedians taking the stage at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif. to skewer the former NFL star was Ron Burgundy, the fictional newsman played by Will Ferrell in 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and 2013’s Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.

Burgundy was introduced on The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady as “a living legend, a world-class lover and the No. 1 news anchor in all of San Diego.”

“My name is Ron Burgundy. I am a very big deal but tonight is not about me,” Ferrell, 56, said. “We are here to honor a champion of the gridiron, a great American, a father and a sexy man, a true patriot — until he was not of course.”

Constantly referencing Brady’s good looks, Burgundy gushed about the former New England Patriots quarterback. “Holy s— this man is gorgeous,” he said. “Look at those cheekbones. That’s a million-watt smile right there. … A person could get lost in those eyes and right now I am that person.”

“Ron, pull it together. You’re a straight man,” Burgundy told himself. “He’s making you question your sexuality. Stop looking at him. You’re here to make fun of him. Not fall in love. Concentrate!”

Ferrell, as Burgundy, went on to tease Brady over his football career, even making remarks about Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bündchen (PEOPLE confirmed in October 2022 that the couple were divorcing after 13 years of marriage).

“I never liked you Tom… in all my years of watching professional football, I never saw a more boring quarterback,” he said, joking that Brady “ruined football for all of us” and that watching the Patriots play “actually made me look forward to all the fun and laughter of a Bill Belichick postgame interview.”

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Brady, 46, had a good sense of humor during the special, which was hosted by Kevin Hart. Other stars who made appearances included Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Nikki Glaser, Drew Bledsoe, Randy Moss and Kim Kardashian.

Speaking with reporters including PEOPLE before the show, Hart said Brady makes a great subject for a roast.

“Look, he’s America’s sweetheart to a certain degree, right?” said Hart. “Everybody has seen him through one lens and has had one perception. I think this is a way for him to kind of broaden that landscape and give people a different POV through his words and through others.”

“Having the ability to laugh at yourself says a lot about who you are,” Hart added. “Not taking yourself too seriously says a lot about who you are. It’s what makes me respect him. That is why I’m here today.”

The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady is now streaming on Netflix.