Pat McAfee’s path since leaving the NFL has taken him far from where it started. He walked away from the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 at just 29, leaving behind a solid career as a punter to build something of his own.
What began as an independent media venture eventually grew too large for traditional networks to pass on. The Pat McAfee Show built a massive audience over the years, and that success carried him to ESPN, where his show became a regular part of the network’s daily programming alongside College GameDay.
Now McAfee is stepping into a new role there.
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
According to ESPN’s recent announcement, Pat McAfee is joining Monday Night Countdown, working alongside Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears and Jason McCourty.
The move also places him in a prominent position for ESPN’s Super Bowl coverage in February. McCourty steps into the role once held by Ryan Clark, who was let go by the network earlier this year.
McAfee reacted to the news shortly after it became official.
“‘Tis an honor to be a part of MNF in any capacity. I hope I can be an asset as we start the journey to The Biggest Super Bowl of all time in LA on ESPN and ABC,” McAfee wrote. “College GameDay on Saturday.. Monday Night Countdown on Monday.. I’m the luckiest man on Earth. Football has been so good to me and my family.. I will try my best to continue to give back to it.”
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He also looked back on how far his show has come since its earliest days. There was no agent, no publicist, no manager, no PR firm, just a show built from a basement with little more than a genuine interest in sports and the people who play them.
That part, he said, hasn’t changed even as everything else around it has grown.
McAfee credited the audience for sticking with him throughout, saying he remains grateful for everything football has given him and his family, and that he plans to keep giving back to the sport that built his career.
