PAT McAfee’s future on ESPN’s College GameDay appears to be in doubt as the 2024 season approaches.
The 37-year-old former NFL punter joined ESPN full-time in 2022.
3
Since then, McAfee has spent the past two college seasons bringing his unique style to the much-loved pregame show alongside Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard.
However, with just over two months left in the 2024 season, McAfee remains without a contract for the program, as per Atlético.
The exact reason for this is still unclear, although the report noted that McAfee previously indicated he planned to return for a third season.
This uncertainty was met with diverse responses from fans on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Maybe I’m in the minority, but I enjoyed having you on College GameDay,” one fan tweeted.
“He should stick to professional wrestling. He fits that demographic well,” suggested a second.
While another claimed that Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff is better.”
This comes eight months after he turned to X to address a report stating that nearly 49 percent of college football fans surveyed said they didn’t like McAfee on GameDay.
Most read in American football
“For the 49%, I have great news. I’ve been hearing you all loud and clear since the beginning of my time at GameDay,” McAfee wrote.
“It’s one of the biggest reasons I didn’t resign from my contract with the legendary program.
“I’m not suited to some crowds and the ‘illustrious’ college football people are definitely one of them.”
Regardless of his future at GameDay, McAfee’s ties to ESPN will continue.
His popular sports talk show, The Pat McAfee Show, ended a deal with FanDuel TV in 2023, with ESPN licensing its rights.
The show’s deal with the network is worth $85 million over five years.
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.
It streams live from the “Thunderdome” in Indiana every weekday from noon to 2 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+ and YouTube.
The show continues for another hour exclusively on ESPN+ and YouTube.
Regulars on the show include four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt, NHL legend PK Subban and, starting next season, six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick .
Elsewhere, McAfee also works as a commentator for WWE SmackDown alongside Michael Cole.
This also led to the former All-Pro making numerous in-ring appearances, including at WrestleMania 39.
3
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
