ESPN analyst Pat McAfee declined to talk about his long-term College GameDay future.
The 37-year-old former NFL punter joined ESPN’s former college football program in 2022.
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McAfee has built a successful media career since leaving football eight years ago.
He launched The Pat McAfee Show in 2019 and brought the show to ESPN last fall in an $85 million deal.
His broadcasting style divided opinion on College GameDay, a sports network staple since 1987.
McAfee will return to the show next season, but declined to talk about his long-term future.
He was joined by GameDay colleague Kirk Herbstreit on Wednesday, with veteran analyst calling McAfee is a “polarizing figure” on the show.
“Let’s not get into that,” McAfee said after Herbstreit mentioned his future on GameDay.
“I do not know if [a long-term deal] This is the case, but it will be discovered.
“It was an honor, it’s an honor to be a part of College GameDay.”
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“A continuing honor,” replied Herbstreit.
“Yes, of course. The honor continues. The honor continues forever and ever,” McAfee said.
ESPN declined to comment on the trade, per Horrible ad.
McAfee spoke about the negative reactions he received from some fans for his GameDay appearances last fall.
“I pride myself on being a good guy in the locker room, with good vibes, with good energy,” said the former Indianapolis Colts punter.
“It’s becoming like, every Saturday, I want to read – because I’m on the internet a lot, we’re an internet show, so I’m there.
“People say, ‘Don’t read your mentions.’ It’s like, ‘I need it.’ It’s part of our work.
Pat McAfee’s Playing Days
Pat McAfee had a hugely successful period before switching to a career in media.
The talk show star served as a punter in the NFL for eight seasons from 2009 to 2016.
He was a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of West Virginia and spent his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts.
The former punter was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2016, and was also a first-team All-Pro in 2014.
McAfee holds the NFL’s single record for highest career net punting yardage average at 41.4 yards, while his longest punt of all time was 74.
“These college fans are incredible, they’re phenomenal, they’re incredibly passionate. But man, what negativity.”
McAfee is a commentator for WWE and revealed he received similar initial backlash from wrestling fans – only for it to subside after “three months.”
“They hated my life, they hated everything about me,” he continued.
“And then they say, ‘You know what? This guy, he’s not that bad.’ College football isn’t like that…
“I don’t love it. I don’t love that my life continues to have people telling me to run into oncoming traffic and chug a keg.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
