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Pat McAfee’s show is moving to ESPN as part of a new multiyear deal announced Tuesday.
McAfee first joined ESPN as a college football analyst for its Thursday night games in 2019. He returned to the network last year and became part of the “College GameDay” crew as well as hosting some alternate presentations of ESPN games, including the CFP National Championship.
McAfee, who punted for the Colts from 2009 to 2016, is owner of Indianapolis-based digital media production company Pat McAfee Inc.
That will continue, but it is McAfee’s show that has created the most buzz. It began on satellite radio in 2016 and picked up steam when it began streaming in 2019. The show has been mainly on YouTube the past three years, but will move to ESPN, the ESPN YouTube Channel and ESPN+ as part of the network’s afternoon lineup beginning in the fall. It will likely air after “First Take” and start at 12 p.m. ET.
McAfee is exiting a four-year deal with FanDuel that the New York Post reported was worth $120 million.
The McAfee show is known for weekly appearances by Aaron Rodgers during the football season, including his announcement of his impending trade to the New York Jets, but also for a frequent use of profanity. McAfee said during ESPN’s presentation to advertisers Tuesday that he wouldn’t swear “nearly as much” but the substance and style of the show would not change despite its new home.
“We ain’t changing a damn thing,” McAfee said. “Every other word is good to go. … We won’t be doing that because it’s the middle of the day, but everything else will be good.”
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Great show, I watch this almost every day.
Congrats to Pat! Savvy businessman who has come a long way from that kid who drove his car into the Broad Ripple canal back in the day!
A lot of people thought he was stupid when he quit football and gave up “all that money” to pursue other passions…
The little I’ve seen of his show has been pretty cool and obviously marketable. ESPN will have to get their “bleep” button tuned up.