REVEALED: Pat McAfee’s new deal with ESPN is worth an estimated ‘$85 million over five years’… but former NFL punter turned talk show host dodges questions about 120 Fan Duel deal ending millions of dollars
- Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN would be worth $85 million over five years
- He previously ended a $120 million Fan Duel sponsorship with his former show
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN is worth $85 million over five years, the Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports.
ESPN declined to comment on the deal with the Post and did not immediately respond to a request for additional details from DailyMail.com.
McAfee, a former NFL Punter turned YouTube host, recently made news by leaving his daily video podcast for ESPN. Details of the contract were yet to be released until Wednesday, when the Post revealed the nearly nine-figure deal.
“Interesting number,” McAfee told The Post via direct message on Twitter. “I’m not talking about the business side of it all, actual numbers and such.”
McAfee, 36, hasn’t really explained why he quit his YouTube show, which was largely funded by a four-year, $120 million endorsement deal with FanDuel. And it’s still unclear how much of that figure went directly to McAfee.
“FanDuel was SportsBook’s exclusive partner of our shows,” McAfee said. ‘SeatGeek is our exclusive ticketing partner. 5 Hour energy is our exclusive partner for energy shots.. etc… etc..’
Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN would be worth $85 million over five years
We were lucky enough to be a partner of theirs for many GREAT times…it was really just to make our lives easier behind the scenes. There’s still a chance we’ll do business together later. FD will always be successful. Lots of great people there. I am grateful to them.
Fanduel declined to comment for the Post.
Now, McAfee reportedly earns around $17 million a year with ESPN.
His duties will include his daily show, which will air hour-long daily episodes on the cable network, ESPN’s YouTube channel and ESPN+. Additionally, he will continue to appear on ESPN’s college football studio show, “College Football GameDay,” and will retain production control of the show.
“I will pay my staff and we will produce the show entirely,” McAfee told the Post via DM. ‘[ESPN] will handle a lot more stuff in the background, while providing an unrivaled platform from a linear perspective with a deep and impressive talent network.
McAfee’s new show will continue to include co-host AJ Hawk (right), a former Packers linebacker
“Their production assets, league rights capabilities and access to everything in the sports world have us incredibly excited about the possibilities and we can’t wait to get started this fall.”
Marchand, who is expecting a baby girl with his wife, went on to describe ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro as a “straight shooter” and insisted the two have a promising relationship.
As a result of McAfee’s deal, the network is forced to make a decision about host Max Kellerman’s future.
It’s Kellerman who appears to be losing his time slot, according to Marchand, and with parent company Disney making layoffs across all of its businesses, including ESPN, the longtime host’s $5 million annual salary could be too heavy to keep.
