Who Is Pat McAfee?
Pat McAfee is a former Indianapolis Colts punter who has built a second career as a leading sports media personality, best known for hosting The Pat McAfee Show, a daily program carried on ESPN, ESPN+, YouTube, and other digital platforms.[1][5][8] His style combines blunt, often humorous commentary with insider access to players and coaches, giving fans a perspective that feels closer to the locker room than a traditional studio desk.
After retiring from the NFL, McAfee launched his own independent show and production company before entering into a major partnership with ESPN that preserved his brand’s tone and format.[2][8] That path—from athlete to independent creator to network centerpiece—has made him a prominent example of how modern sports stars can convert on-field credibility into long-term media influence.
The Pat McAfee Show Today
The Pat McAfee Show airs live Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. Eastern, with ESPN and ESPN+ simulcasting the program alongside a robust YouTube stream.[1][3][4][8] Live episodes feature wide-ranging discussions of the day’s biggest stories, from NFL playoff races to college football controversies, often with breaking news and in-depth interviews woven into the three-hour window.[1][5]
Recent broadcasts have highlighted McAfee and his team making weekly picks for every NFL game, debating playoff scenarios, and reacting in real time to performances by teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills.[4][6][7] Those segments are then clipped for YouTube and social media, where they generate additional engagement and help the show shape the broader online sports conversation.
Impact on ESPN and Sports Media
McAfee’s partnership with ESPN has become a cornerstone of the network’s strategy to prioritize big personalities and digitally native formats, influencing decisions about which voices the network elevates across football coverage.[2] Industry analysts frequently cite McAfee’s deal—where he retains substantial creative control and a strong independent brand—as a model that ESPN may replicate with other emerging talents.[2]
Commentary around ESPN’s future college football coverage, for example, often invokes McAfee when discussing hosts who built large online audiences before joining the network.[2] By bringing his show to marquee locations such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, McAfee is also demonstrating how a daily program can double as a live event franchise, reinforcing his role as both a broadcaster and a media entrepreneur shaping the next wave of sports coverage.[9]