‘Jeopardy!’ Star James Holzhauer Drops Bombshell—Fans Could See Him Back on the Iconic Show

James Holzhauer, the self-proclaimed “supervillain” of Jeopardy!, has left fans buzzing once again with a stunning revelation about the game show. While currently dominating the ongoing Jeopardy! Masters tournament, Holzhauer has admitted he is eager to return to the regular syndicated edition of Jeopardy!—a move that, if it happens, would be unprecedented under the show’s current rules.

The news emerged in a recent interview published by Vulture with Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies, who also discussed the potential for a long-awaited rematch between Holzhauer and Ken Jennings. During the early stages of the Masters tournament, Holzhauer even used his Final Jeopardy! response to call out Jennings, hinting at the fans’ desire for a head-to-head showdown.

“There are a number of rules at Jeopardy! that have been set by the greats over the years. Every now and then, I bump into them,” Davies explained when asked whether a Jennings-Holzhauer rematch was possible. “One of those rules is that once you’ve hosted Jeopardy!, you can no longer compete as a contestant.”

Davies confirmed that Ken Jennings has explicitly retired from playing on the show. However, he noted that there are exceptions in other competitive arenas: “Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus continued competing in the Masters long after they had hosted tournaments on the PGA Tour. I’m probably more open to the idea than most, but it wouldn’t be my decision alone. Would I love to see Ken and James face off again? Absolutely. Time will tell.”

What stole the spotlight, however, was Davies revealing Holzhauer’s personal request: he wants to return to the regular, daily version of Jeopardy!. “James mentioned that his wife joked that the prize for winning the Masters could be the chance to go back on the weekday version of the show,” Davies said. “What he really wants, more than any prize, is simply to play again.”

Holzhauer is no stranger to Jeopardy! success. In 2019, he achieved a 32-game winning streak and claimed the Tournament of Champions title. Yet, under current rules, former contestants are not permitted to compete in the standard show again. Davies, however, questioned whether this restriction truly makes sense. “We don’t allow previous players back on the show, but I sometimes wonder if that’s the right approach. If our goal is to have the best possible contestants on the Alex Trebek Stage, does it make sense to exclude those who have already played? Maybe there’s another James Holzhauer out there who just had an off day.”

Since taking over as showrunner in 2021, Davies has emphasized turning Jeopardy! into more of a competitive sport, introducing new tournaments and tweaking rules to reward the top performers. While he is committed to discovering new talent, he acknowledges that past champions can bring immense value to the show. “I want to find new players, but I’m not sure we should automatically exclude anyone who’s competed before. There could be another superstar waiting for a chance.”

Holzhauer himself appeared to confirm his intentions via social media, tweeting about the Vulture article: “He laughed, but he didn’t say no…” Fans quickly responded, urging the show to make his return a reality. One user tweeted, “Make it happen @Jeopardy,” while another pointed out that Holzhauer could potentially earn more by returning to regular play than by winning the Masters championship.

Despite cultivating a “bad boy” persona on-screen, Holzhauer has been effusive in his praise for fellow Masters contestants. He complimented Amy Schneider and Sam Buttrey, who were eliminated on May 17. Holzhauer tweeted about Schneider: “When my wife asked @Jeopardamy to participate in our fundraiser last year, Amy jumped at the chance to pay her own way to Las Vegas and volunteer. It was an honor to share the Masters stage with such an inspiration, a phenomenal player, and an even better human.”

He also highlighted Buttrey’s performance, writing, “I had only briefly met @sam_buttrey before these tapings, but his charm and wit were immediately evident. Not only did he win America’s hearts, but he was the only Masters contestant to outperform me on the signaling device head-to-head (check the box scores!).”

Holzhauer’s candidness, both about his desire to return to regular Jeopardy! and his respect for fellow contestants, has reignited fan enthusiasm. The idea of seeing him back on the daily show—and potentially facing off against other legends—has sparked a frenzy across social media, leaving viewers clamoring for confirmation.

As the Masters tournament continues, one thing is clear: James Holzhauer’s presence on Jeopardy! is far from finished. Whether or not he returns to the weekday show, his impact on the franchise remains undeniable. Fans and industry insiders alike are now left speculating on how the rules might adapt, and whether the self-proclaimed “supervillain” could once again shake up the game that made him a household name.