Pat McAfee is one of the most popular sports pundits currently on the air. Known for his viral reactions and outspoken personality, the former NFL punter has found both success and a major audience. He has worked with a lot of outlets over the years, from Barstool to Fox to ESPN. However, it seemed as though he had found a home on FanDuel. In fact, FanDuel was more than happy to ink a $120 million contract with McAfee to be the exclusive home of The Pat McAfee Show.
However, reports in March appeared to indicate that McAfee was looking to move on from FanDuel before the end of his contract. No reason was given for why he could be moving on from FanDuel. Despite this, multiple outlets reported that McAfee was looking for a new home.
ESPN Lands McAfee
That speculation came to an end on Tuesday when ESPN announced that they had signed McAfee to a multi-year deal. McAfee already serves as a color commentator for Thursday Night Football. Now the network will also feature his flagship show starting this fall. "Pat is a proven talent," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the statement. "He and his team have built 'The Pat McAfee Show' into one of the most engaging programs in sports and all of media. It's a destination for athlete interviews and breaking news, and the centerpiece of a growing community of sports fans. We're honored to bring Pat and the show to ESPN through a multifaceted, multiplatform approach."
Furthermore, McAfee expressed his excitement about joining ESPN. "We are extremely honored that ESPN is blessing us with this opportunity to be a part of the next chapter of the ESPN family. We do not take that lightly and are going to work hard to make sure this is a success. All parties involved agree the time has come for a bunch of sports stooges in a Thunderdome in Indiana to sprinkle in some fun and celebration of sport as well." However, McAfee assured fans that his show would remain largely the same, albeit with a little less profanity. How do you feel about McAfee leaving for ESPN? Let us know in the comments.
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