Pat McAfee is the newest commentator to join the North American ESPN team for college football broadcasts. The journalist Adam Schefter announced on Monday (29) the hiring via Twitter, information confirmed by the former player. McAfee will also make appearances on the morning show Get Up.
Former Indianapolis Colts punter, who announced retirement in early 2017, launched the podcast The Pat McAfee Show In the same year. The program, initially a partnership with the website Barstool Sports, has followed independently since August 2018. Still last year, in December, McAfee signed a contract as a WWE commentator. In addition, the former Colts also make presentations stand-up comedy.
For 2019, the former player launched a campaign, via Twitter, to fill the vacancy left by Jason Witten in Monday Night Football broadcasts. The hashtag #McAfeeForMNF reached trending topics in the United States, but was not successful. ESPN has announced that the new commentator for Monday’s matches will be Anthony “Booger” McFarland. At the time, McAfee regretted the decision, but said he would insist on trying to pursue a career as a commentator. He said he was willing to break the stigma of “internet personality” that goes with it.
After the first attempt, McAfee revealed to have considered a return to the NFL. The ex-punter received proposals to act as a kicker, a position he played in college football, but gave up after suffering from an inflammation caused by knee stress. With that, he resumed his efforts to obtain the post of commentator.
This will not be the former player’s first broadcast experience. In 2018, McAfee commented on the match between Baylor and Texas Tech, valid for week 13 of college football, and the game of week 17 of the NFL between Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
The ESPN team will have Adam Amin as the narrator and Molly McGrath as the reporter. Matt Hasselback, a former Seattle Seahawks quarterback who ended his Colts career with McAfee, will be the other commentator.
Chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2009 Draft, Pat McAfee served in 127 games with the team, adding 575 punts for a total of 26,653 yards. The ex-punter was voted for the Pro Bowl twice and nominated once for the First Team All-Pro.
(Photo: Reproduction official website / Indianapolis Colts)
