Did You Know Terry Crews Almost Went to Culinary School?

If you open an encyclopedia, you might find Terry Crews’ photo next to the “renaissance man” entry.

Maybe you joined his fan club during Terry’s days making game-saving plays in the NFL as a linebacker and defensive end for the Rams, Chargers and Commanders. Perhaps you were first introduced to him when he was passionately singing along to Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” during the breakout film White Chicks. Or maybe you know him as the three-time winner of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive title or as the host of America’s Got Talent, who celebrates golden-buzzer recipients with a cracking voice and welled-up eyes.

Regardless of how you were introduced to Terry Crews, to know the multi-hyphenate is to love him. Just ask his wife, his five kids or the two judges he joins as part of the cast for the new Food Network show 100 Cooks. (“They’re like my homies. It’s like my brother and my sister, all the way,” Terry said of Nick DiGiovanni and Alex Guarnaschelli.)

On the latest episode of Food Network Obsessed, host Jaymee Sire invited Terry to talk about ambition, inspiration and the only five recipes you need for your ultimate party spread.

Terry Crews Obsessed

To kick off her conversation with Terry, Jaymee asked, “When you decide to do something, you don’t just dip a toe in. You’re cannonballing into the deep end, whether it’s sports, fitness, acting, hosting, writing, art. What are you obsessed with at the moment?”

So many things, Terry admitted. Notably, food. (In case you were curious about what’s in his rider, it’s a fully loaded charcuterie board.)

“When I retired from the NFL, I actually thought I was going to go to cooking school. The way that I’m designed, I need to dedicate myself to something. I need to commit. I always loved going to restaurants. Food is my love language. When I watch people enjoy something I’ve made, it makes me feel good,” Terry said.

Instead of pursuing that path, Terry fell into acting almost by accident.

“I didn’t start acting until I was 30 years old,” Terry told Jaymee. “I was done playing football … a friend of mine invited me to an audition, and I got it! It was a TV show called Battle Dome,” an athletic competition show akin to American Gladiators. “I tell everyone that you have to try everything. You contain multitudes!”

Terry sure does. He went on to explain that he also plays the flute and last binge-watched Knife Edge, an eight-episode docuseries about restaurants’ quests to earn a Michelin star.

Your Ultimate Game-Day Menu, According to Terry

Harkening back to Terry’s previous career on the field and combining that with his current role cheering on all 100 Cooks in the kitchen, Jaymee asked Terry to draft his perfect game-day menu. (Psst … this would work just as well for a gathering for any reason or during any season.)

To ensure everyone feasts like an MVP, Terry recommends:

• Chicken wings
• Nachos
• Sliders (Feel free to get creative, Terry said: “You can twist them up” by opting for a classic mini burger, a baby Buffalo chicken sandwich, a poquito Cuban or a delightfully drippy sloppy joe slider.)
• Pigs in a blanket
• A veggie platter with blue cheese or ranch dip (This “supports the others without overwhelming them,” Terry noted.)

Terry Places His Bet on 100 Cooks

After Jaymee helped us learn more about Terry’s credentials and cravings, she tossed the conversation over to one of the hottest topics on the Food Network lineup this summer: 100 Cooks.

The arena feels like “the Knicks versus the Spurs,” Terry laughed, as he reminisced about this summer’s iconic NBA championship series. “A show this big needed a host who’s this big.”

During the premiere, 100 home cooks entered the competition. By day, they’re school counselors, firefighters, pastors, parents and more. By night — Sunday nights, more specifically — they’re cooking and baking their way for a chance to win the biggest prize in Food Network history: $250,000.

While that big payday is certainly appealing, Terry explained that for the home cooks involved in the competition, “it was really never about the money. They wanted to watch the judges enjoy what they made with their own hands. It was the love language from every one of those cooks. I felt at home. Each and every one of those cooks [now] feels like a family member,” he said.

Considering food is Terry’s love language, too, he felt an instant connection with all of the contestants.

“There were many times I was in tears. Food is your story. What you cook is your life. It’s where you come from … everybody added their story to their meals,” Terry told Jaymee. “There [are] going to be a lot of stars that come out of this show.”

While Terry might not have his own Michelin star (yet), he’s certainly ever more of a bright spot for his new fans and friends, as the finale for 100 Cooks approaches.

As he reflected on the season and his life, Terry passed along some priceless advice: “Breaking your neighbor’s windows doesn’t make your house look better. But everyone who improves their own home and makes it look beautiful [so] you have a beautiful neighborhood, it makes your house look better. True competition is giving your best. If you give your best, it will be enough, no matter what that is. Everyone is improving … I’m anxious to see where this journey takes them.”

So, what’s next for Terry? A stop at the gym before devouring one of his favorite cheat-day meals. That’s a burger cooked by judge Alex, ideally at her New York City restaurant Butter, by the way.

Tune in Sundays at 9|8c to watch all-new episodes of 100 Cooks on Food Network, and stream the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.

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