The Pat McAfee Show is reportedly set to get a new home on ESPN beginning in the fall, according to a report from Andrew Marchand of The New York Post.
The deal is said to be worth “more than eight figures,” and will free McAfee from his previous four-year, $120 million contract with FanDuel.
McAfee’s show “is expected to remain on YouTube in some form, but one or two hours of it could be on ESPN, where the network would more likely be able to make the math of McAfee’s deal work,” Marchand wrote.
Pat McAfee is a former professional American football punter who played for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). After retiring from football in 2017, McAfee ventured into various media roles, including podcasting and sports commentary. In 2020, McAfee made his WWE debut as a guest commentator on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
McAfee’s appearance was well-received by fans and WWE management, leading to a recurring role as a commentator on the NXT brand. McAfee’s natural charisma and enthusiasm made him a fan favorite and helped enhance the broadcast experience for viewers.
On April 16, 2021, WWE announced that McAfee had been moved to the SmackDown brand, serving as color commentator alongside Michael Cole. On September 7, 2022 WWE announced that McAfee was taking a hiatus from working for WWE for the foreseeable future as he is set to join ESPN’s College GameDay.
At the 2023 Royal Rumble, McAfee made a surprise return for commentary right before the men’s Royal Rumble match began. He joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. McAfee didn’t make another appearance until WrestleMania 39, challenging The Miz to a match.
