Terry Crews Says He Never Wants to Judge America’s Got Talent: Here’s Why (Exclusive)

Don’t expect to see Terry Crews sitting behind the judges’ table on America’s Got Talent anytime soon.

The former professional football player turned actor, 56, exclusively told PEOPLE at a recent red carpet celebrating the show’s milestone 20th season that he’s most comfortable being the host and, as he described it, a “bodyguard” for the contestants.

“That’s not my thing,” he said of being a judge. “I mean, I am 100% the bodyguard of talent because when I look at all the people that come through here, they just remind me of me.”

“I remember just sitting in Michigan praying one day if I get my shot to come out to L.A. and make it happen, and they remind me of everything that I’ve been through,” he explained. “So I protect it and I watch them.”

Crews said he is there to support the contestants, no matter how well they did or didn’t do on the stage.

“I’m the counselor when they go on. I give them all the good advice when they come off. If it didn’t go well, I console them,” he said. “So I love that.”

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While Crews isn’t down to be a judge on America’s Got Talent, he does have an idea for who would make a good one alongside Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel, Sofía Vergara and Mel B.

“I think Chris Rock would be a great judge,” he revealed. “He knows funny, but he knows entertainment.”

Crews, who joined America’s Got Talent as a host beginning with season 14 in 2019, said working on the show is “a dream come true” for him.

“This is a dream gig,” he said. “Where else can you go where the whole world is watching?”

America’s Got Talent season 20 premieres Tuesday, May 27, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.