Production Beatty initially wanted Muhammad Ali to play the central character, but because of Ali's continued commitment to boxing, Beatty changed the character from a boxer to an American football player, and played the character himself. The type of instrument he played was also changed; in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Pendleton assays "The Last Rose of Summer" on the alto saxophone, and in the 1978 film, he plays "Ciribiribin" on a soprano sax. The music during the comic training scene with Joe and the servants at the Farnsworth mansion, as well as the later training session with the Rams is Handel's Sonata No. 3 in F Major, performed by Paul Brodie (sopranino saxophone) and Antonin Kubalek (piano). The main theme is the song "Heaven Can Wait" performed by Dave Grusin and the London Symphony Orchestra. Neil Diamond composed a song titled "Heaven Can Wait" specifically for the film that he thought would be a good theme song, but Beatty declined to use it. The Paul McCartney and Wings song "Did We Meet Somewhere Before?" was considered as a theme song for the film, but was ruled out. It later appeared in the film Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979).
PRodUcTion beatty initiaLLY wANted MUhaMMad aLi to play ThE central CHaracTer, But because of aLi's continUed cOMmITmEnT tO BoxInG, beatTy ChaNGed the character fRom a bOxeR to an AmericaN fOOtbalL PLayer, and PlAYeD the chaRActer hIMself. THe typE OF instRumeNt He pLAyEd was also CHaNGEd; iN hEre comes mr. JorDAN, pendleton ASsaYS "tHE laST rOsE Of sumMer" On tHe aLtO SAxophonE, and in the 1978 film, he plAyS "cIRibiribIn" oN a sOPrAno Sax. THe MusIc dUring tHE Comic traiNing scene witH joE and the seRvanTs at the farNSWORTh MAnsIon, as WeLl as the LatEr training sEsSIoN wITh thE raMS is haNdeL'S sonaTA no. 3 in f MAjor, peRfoRmeD by pAul brodie (sopraNino saxoPhoNE) and Antonin kubAlek (pianO). tHe main THeMe Is tHe song "heAven can waIt" PerfOrMED By dAvE gRusIN AnD the loNdon sympHony orchesTra. nEil dIAmond coMPosed A sonG titled "heaven cAn Wait" SpecifIcallY fOr thE fIlm that he THoughT wouLd Be A GOOd theme sOng, but beattY dEClINEd To usE iT. the pAUl mccArtney And wings sOng "DId we Meet sOMewhErE bEFore?" WaS coNsidEReD aS A tHEmE song for the fIlm, buT WAs ruleD oUt. IT laTer Appeared In The fIlm roCK 'N' roll higH sCHOOl (1979).