Last year, something felt off in Coney Island. The energy wasn’t quite the same — and there was a good reason for it. Legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut, known to fans simply as "Jaws," was notably absent from Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. The reason? His partnership with Impossible Foods, a company that produces plant-based hot dogs, reportedly violated contest sponsorship rules.
But now, just a year later, there’s hope that Chestnut might return to the iconic summer event.
Joey Chestnut return?
According to a report from TMZ Sports, Major League Eating (MLE) and Chestnut are in talks to bring him back to the competition. After missing his first Coney Island contest since 2004, Chestnut left the door open for a possible return. Now, it seems that door may be open.
Plus, with Chestnut easily being the most known face in Major League Eating, it only makes sense for the two to squash their beef. With last year's edition of the contest seeing its lowest ratings in a decade, it's time for Chestnut to rejoin what is a tradition for many during a time when sporting events thin out and ESPN2 becomes ESPN8: The Ocho.
Chestnut continues to dominate
Even in his early 40s, Chestnut shows no signs of slowing down. Last Labor Day, he took on longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi in a Netflix special and devoured 83 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. More recently, he broke his own popcorn-eating world record by consuming 32 24-ounce bags in eight minutes.
Chestnut’s resume is unmatched. He’s a 16-time Nathan’s champion and holds world records in everything from Twinkies to gyoza to Krystal burgers.
As of now, nothing is official — but if Chestnut returns to Coney Island this July, the contest will be back to full strength. Once again, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest will be must-see TV.