Louisiana man to compete in 2025 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A man from Baton Rouge will be eating to compete at an American holiday tradition — the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Adrian Morgan, 42, is No. 12 in Major League Eating (MLE) rankings ahead of the challenge. According to MLE, Morgan’s first eating contest was in Biloxi in January 2010 when he ate 18.5 peanut butter & banana sandwiches in 10 minutes.

“The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest stands as an enduring beacon of freedom for our nation and the world,” said Major League Eating Chair George Shea. “We look forward to watching the greatest eaters as they compete on a celebrated platform for international sports.”

Last year, Patrick Bertoletti was named the winner after eating 58 hot dogs.

Morgan has a tough opponent with Joey “Jaws” Chestnut’s return for this year’s contest after a sponsorship conflict caused him to miss the competition last year. He holds the world hot dog-eating record with 76 hot dogs.

“This event means the world to me. It’s a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life,” Chestnut wrote on social media.

Watch Morgan compete at 11 a.m. CT July 4 on ESPN2. If you miss it live, the competition will re-air at 4 p.m. CT and 8 p.m. CT.

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