Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky took to social media Monday night to support Pat McAfee amid a flurry of online criticism aimed at McAfee’s high-energy, unconventional hosting style during the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby.
Pat McAfee Steps Way Outside His Comfort Zone
Pat McAfee, best known for The Pat McAfee Show and his work on ESPN’s College GameDay and Monday Night Football, was tapped to co-host the Home Run Derby broadcast on ESPN alongside Karl Ravech and Eduardo Pérez. The decision to place a “football guy” in a marquee MLB broadcast role raised eyebrows even before first pitch, especially among baseball purists.
However, in the morning, McAfee awoke to some interesting takes on his performance on Monday night.
Good morning beautiful people
Fresh off a break.. got a chance to do something new with a different sport.. I really enjoyed it and think it went exactly how all parties envisioned it.. let’s see what X has to say… pic.twitter.com/0QcP9j19Pt
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 15, 2025
Many social media comments criticized McAfee for lacking baseball knowledge, nuance, and substance. Some didn’t like his loud and brash delivery, which clashes with the more subdued nature of traditional baseball broadcasts. Others expressed fatigue with McAfee’s omnipresence across the ESPN platform, from football to baseball.
However, McAfee is not without his supporters, especially in the sports media.
Dan Orlovsky responded to the pig-piling with a post on X.
Thought you and Ty were awesome brother.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 15, 2025
Which follows from his post the night before about the Derby’s broadcast.
Enjoyed the Derby.
Was one of my favorite sporting events as a kid to watch—Raleigh is a stud
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) July 15, 2025
Orlovsky wasn’t the only one. Former NFL lineman, podcaster, and announcer Ross Tucker chimed in to let McAvee know that he was the only reason he tuned into the broadcast.
You were the only reason I knew the HR Derby was last night 🤷‍♂️
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) July 15, 2025
McAfee’s rise from NFL punter to digital media superstar to ESPN centerpiece has been both meteoric and divisive. While his show attracts millions of views and boasts prominent sports guests, he’s often criticized for lacking journalistic rigor and a “bro” persona.
However, ESPN values him as a crossover star who injects life into otherwise staid and traditional productions. McAfee’s taking part in MLB’s All-Star Home Run Derby is another example of that dynamic.
This isn’t the first time McAfee has drawn criticism, but it was one of the few times it happened live, during a big event, in a sport he hasn’t fully covered before. ESPN is unlikely to make much of the pushback. McAfee’s popularity, brand, and name recognition outweigh any backlash from a subset of baseball fans annoyed by enthusiasm and bat flips.
McAfee’s viewership numbers are enormous. His ESPN2 “FieldPass” alt-cast during the College Football Playoff in January drew 1.25 million viewers, more than double the previous year. In April 2024, The Pat McAfee Show averaged 389,000 combined viewers across TV and YouTube, up 37% from the year before, and pulled in 392 million views overall.
So while McAfee may have missed with some fans Monday night, he’s still winning overall.
