ESPN and Pat McAfee Are Discussing a MASSIVE Contract Extension
While Stephen A. Smith is undoubtedly the face of ESPN these days, it is Pat McAfee who may be the network’s biggest star.
Since joining The Worldwide Leader in Sports, McAfee has become omnipresent across the network. As things stand, The Pat McAfee Show anchors ESPN’s afternoon lineup, with the first two hours of the program airing on ESPN and the final hour exclusive to ESPN+ and YouTube.
Photo: IMDB
Additionally, McAfee has become a mainstay of College GameDay, hosted numerous alternate broadcasts for major sporting events, and recently assembled a primetime special featuring all four major North American sports commissioners.
McAfee and ESPN Are Discussing a Major Extension
While McAfee still has two years remaining on his current contract with ESPN, it sounds like the relationship will continue well beyond his existing deal.
. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
According to a new report from The Athletic, ESPN and McAfee are discussing a contract extension that would pay the former punter between $60 million and $65 million per year.
Should the two sides come to an agreement, McAfee is expected to play an even larger role in the network’s NFL coverage going forward.
While ESPN has previously handed out major contracts to Smith, Troy Aikman, and other network stars, McAfee’s new deal would eclipse them all.
A Different Kind of Deal
According to The Athletic, however, the network views McAfee’s agreement as a production deal, as it does not own the rights to The Pat McAfee Show.
Photo: Bloomberg
Currently, McAfee has a $17 million deal for his afternoon program and a separate $13 million contract for his work on College GameDay.
When bringing McAfee into the fold, ESPN made it clear that it wanted to reach a new demographic.
Photo: ESPN
Based on the figures being discussed for the latest contract extension, it sounds like McAfee has delivered.
Soon, fans may be seeing even more of the former Colt than ever before.
Photo: MickeyBlog
