One of football’s busiest media personalities, Pat McAfee, may be getting even busier.
The ex-NFL punter hosts “The Pat McAfee Show” and headlines the cast of “College Gameday,” but there might be more on the way.
Pat McAfee Rumored To Get a New Monday Night Football Gig
NFL insider Andrew Marchand reported that McAfee and his castmates on “The Pat McAfee Show” are in talks with ESPN to secure an alternative cast for Monday Night Football whenever the Manning cast is not airing.
“If the NFL approves, McAfee and his team would likely do games on ESPN2 in the weeks when the Mannings aren’t airing,” Marchand wrote. “The Mannings are scheduled to analyze 12 games plus the Super Bowl this season. McAfee could do approximately eight games, though the exact number has not yet been set.”
However, the fans on social media weren’t happy to see McAfee getting another show on the network after he was already announced to be a part of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” for the upcoming season. Here’s how they reacted:
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“I don’t hate Pat but this is tiring,” said an X user. “Enough.”
I don’t hate Pat but this is tiring. Enough https://t.co/p0EtrZiUzv
— Elits21 (@elits02) August 20, 2026
In agreement, another fan wrote, “Alright man, this is getting obnoxious now.”
One fan was so shocked by yet another McAfee program that they do not believe it is real. He wrote, “We’re being pranked. Only explanation.”
We’re being pranked. Only explanation https://t.co/jSPtT0OEVm
— Brogan Noey (@BroganNoey) August 20, 2026
Since retiring from the NFL in 2017, McAfee’s exponential growth in the industry has been fascinating to watch. Earlier this summer, reports emerged that McAfee is in talks on a contract extension with ESPN worth $60–65 million a year.
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Beyond his work in football, McAfee had a run as a WWE commentator, including at Wrestlepalooza in September 2025 and during WrestleMania 42 this past April, but he has since said publicly, and repeatedly, that he’s done with wrestling for good.
McAfee’s crew made its debut in McAfee’s hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, in April of 2025. Here, the city of bridges native represented his hometown well, selling over 12,000 tickets in the whimsical and unpredictable “Big Night Aht.”
Despite his efforts to continue building his brand, fans seem to be McAfee-exhausted.
Another X user voiced their frustrations with the longtime Indianapolis Colts’ reign over football media, saying, “Nah, this is getting ridiculous lmao.”
Nah this is getting ridiculous lmao https://t.co/t84n18dPGI
— 🤟🏾 (@RyWeeeeezy) August 20, 2026
Some fans even joked that McAfee has strange ties to ESPN and that this is the reason for his surplus of shows. “Does he have dirt on the ESPN president or something?” One fan comically acclaimed.
Does he have dirt on the espn president or something https://t.co/4u4DoPj3N4
— Rookie Ref Abe (@OdehEveryday) August 20, 2026
“Dude might as well change his name to Pet McAfee cause that’s exactly what he is for ESPN,” said another bitter fan.
Furthermore, one fan is so enraged that they believe that they are being “forced” to watch McAfee.
“Dude [expletive] is up with forcing everyone to watch this guy? Wrote the agitated X user.
Potentially touching on McAfee’s aforementioned extension with ESPN, an additional fan is getting sick of the headlines.
The X user described their frustrations, writing, “Every day the news keeps getting worse.”
Every day the news keeps getting worse https://t.co/862AfZvoOD
— Doom Coming (@Getthebagcoach) August 20, 2026
Although ESPN clearly sees McAfee as a valued member and a leader in media traffic, are they making a poor decision in potentially adding another program for the former NFL punter?
