NFL fans trash ESPN over Pat McAfee's rumored new deal as talk show aims for eight-figure bag

NFL fans trash ESPN over Pat McAfee's rumored new deal as talk show aims for eight-figure bag - "ESPN ruins everything"

Modified May 10, 2023 15:03 GMT

Super Bowl LVII - Previews — Pat McAfee may be in the process of signing a deal with ESPN, leaving a $120 million contract with FanDuel.

Pat McAfee has been hinting that there may be a move for his hit show. In recent days, he has hinted that it was 'up to something season'. While the news will be released within the next seven to 10 days, the former Indianapolis Colts punter has said that it will be the biggest thing to happen to the show.

On Tuesday morning, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that the former NFL punter could be close to signing a deal with ESPN. This means that he could be leaving his contract with FanDuel, which was estimated to be worth $120 million.

While the news isn't yet confirmed, "The Pat McAfee Show" could soon be under the ESPN umbrella and give viewers another outlet to watch the hit sports-based show.

Fans of "The Pat McAfee Show" weren't exactly pleased by the news that the show may be joining ESPN. Almost all of them agree that the show may change and lose the key aspects that make it different from the rest. While the show has broken some of the biggest news in sports, it also doesn't have a filter and the use of expletives is common among Pat McAfee and his co-hosts.

So, if ESPN does in fact strike a deal with the former NFL punter, fans will be skeptical at first and will determine for themselves whether the show has lost its 'charm'.

How long did Pat McAfee play in the NFL?

Pat McAfee played his collegiate career at West Virginia, where he was a kicker for the Mountaineers for four seasons. In his senior season in 2008, he was named a First Team All-American. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Colts drafted him as a punter and not a kicker, as the team already had veteran Adam Vinatieri. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2009 and was named to the NFL's Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2016.

He played eight seasons for the Indianapolis Colts, missing just one game in 2010 in his entire NFL career. Due to knee injuries and having to undergo three knee surgeries throughout his career, he announced his retirement from the National Football League in February 2017.

Before starting his own show, he worked for Barstool Sports as a contributor. Along with hosting his own show, he also works as an analyst for ESPN's College GameDay as well as hosting various WWE events.

About the author

Bethany Cohen is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda, with a rich prior 15-year experience in the sports writing industry, primarily covering the MLB and MiLB. She majored in Communications from the University of South Florida and has previously worked for top companies such as Examiner.com and Legends on Deck.

Bethany owes her NFL allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers owing to their long-standing tradition and competitiveness. She is a fan of old stalwarts such as Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and would love to watch them in the 1970s if she manages to get her hand on a time machine. She also acknowledges the greatness of modern icons like T.J. Watt for his desire to continuously improve despite being on top. She admires coaches Mike Tomlin and Andy Reid for their longevity and success.

The ace reporter credits her knowledge and love for the sport to be her biggest reporting strengths. Prior fact-checking is a big component of her process and she always scours through additional sources to ensure complete accuracy in her content.

Super Bowl XLIII, when the Steelers won the the grand prize after Santonio Holmes’ epic catch in the end zone with just seconds left on the clock is etched in Bethany’s memory forever. When she is free of her professional commitments, she likes to attend sports events and music concerts.

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