Pat McAfee’s rise in sports media has been unprecedented. He has become a household name at ESPN since bringing “The Pat McAfee Show” to the network, while also serving as a featured personality on “College GameDay” each Saturday.
Beyond the studio, McAfee has found success during the College Football Playoff over the last two years, hosting alternate telecasts for major events — including this year’s national championship between Miami and Indiana. He and his crew broadcast from the field, with their production typically airing on ESPN2 while the main broadcast airs on ABC and/or ESPN.
Those alternate broadcasts have drawn significant viewership. Most notably, McAfee’s Rose Bowl telecast between Alabama and Indiana averaged 2.4 million viewers.
Now, according to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, ESPN — which holds the rights to next year’s Super Bowl in Los Angeles — is considering a Field Pass broadcast featuring “The Pat McAfee Show.” The concept is reportedly one of several ideas currently under consideration.
McAfee reacted to the report Wednesday, suggesting that any potential roadblocks from a rights perspective are “hurdle-able.”
“BREAKING: Source(s) tell me that the rights hurdle is very hurdle-able. Would be absolutely bonkers,” McAfee posted.
The Super Bowl isn’t until February 2027, so there are still plenty of details to iron out. Still, it presents a massive opportunity for ESPN, which is expected to have the game called by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
While the network weighs the potential McAfee broadcast, it is also reportedly considering a “ManningCast” featuring Peyton and Eli Manning, along with a KidsCast — an alternate format that has seen success on other networks in recent years.