By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-19 17:42:05 | Updated at 2026-08-19 17:52:06
23 minutes ago
Pat McAfee has been handed a promotion at ESPN, expanding his role with the network by joining the NFL Monday Night Countdown team.
The former punter-turned-broadcaster will join the network's weekly pregame show before Monday Night Football, with Jason McCourty also part of the revamped team.
The two new faces join the returning Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears as well as host Scott Van Pelt on the on-site, two-hour pregame studio show, with Kurt Warner also joining periodically for select segments during the season.
ESPN announced that 'McAfee’s new role expands his prominent presence across ESPN, where he hosts The Pat McAfee Show and serves as an analyst on College GameDay Built by The Home Depot.'
McAfee referred to himself as the 'luckiest man on earth' as news of his promotion was made public.
Sharing ESPN's announcement post, he wrote: 'Man.. I’m hoping that’s not a real photo of me BUT.. ‘Tis an honor to be a part of MNF in any capacity.
Pat McAfee will join ESPN's Monday Night Countdown show in the 2026 NFL season
Jason McCourty has also been introduced to the show as part of changes announced by ESPN
Monday Night Countdown is a two-hour, on-site preview show before every MNF game
'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 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. We started this show in the basement.. no agent.. no publicist.. no manager.. no PR firm.. just a love of sport and it’s people.
'So thankful for it all and for all of you who have followed along with this absurdly dumb life. The Fall Football Tour starts in Baton Rouge on September 5th.. Let’s GOOOOO.'
McAfee's increased NFL involvement comes with talks ongoing over a massive new contract at the network worth $60-65million-a-year, per The Athletic. McAfee has two years left on his $30million-a-year contract, which operates on a sliding scale based on his responsibilities and also requires him to pay those on his Pat McAfee Show team.
But while the network is doubling down on its massive push of McAfee as its leading personality, not everyone agrees with the approach as the news was met with backlash on social media.
'I don’t think ESPN understands that less is more with some talent,' one user responded. 'He wasn’t bad in small spurts, but they always seem to get a little spark from someone and just absolutely shove that talent down everyone’s throat.'
Another said: 'ESPN is gonna squeeze all the juice out of that lemon to make lemonade!!!!' and 'So even more McAfee? Didn't think that was possible' as another viewer claimed 'ESPN has become unwatchable.'
Some are even threatening to boycott the show, saying: 'A good excuse not to watch the pregame . Him and Kelce .. just let me know what time is kickoff. ESPN is just getting worse by the day.'
ESPN viewers are growing tired of McAfee's increasing presence on screens
Another added: 'ESPN pregames will not be watched a millions of households.'.
One of McAfee's supporters admitted: 'Im a Pat fan but hes on way too much stuff guess they have to justify paying him that money.'
'I got burned out on McAfee a year or so ago,' another post added. 'His schtick gets old pretty fast. Don’t understand all the hoopla that continues with him.'
McAfee and Kelce's promotions come after ESPN made another round of sweeping cuts, with familiar faces such as Ryan Clark, Bart Scott, Damien Woody, Cam Newton, Charles Davis and Tom Pelissero among those to leave from its NFL operations.
