FOS Explains: The Arrest That Launched Pat McAfee’s $500M Career

Pat McAfee’s story began on the football field—but it’s one that took an unexpected turn.

McAfee was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He kicked field goals and punted in college, but the Colts drafted McAfee to be their new punter. It’s a position that normally doesn’t usually draw the spotlight, but McAfee's big personality made him stand out and become a fan favorite in Indy.?

A year later, McAfee was arrested for public intoxication after getting drunk and swimming in the Broad Ripple Canal. That arrest actually helped McAfee launch his media career.

The Colts punter was released six hours later and suspended for one game. So, a local radio show called “Bob and Tom” asked him to come on and talk about the situation.

There, his media career began.

Since 2022, Pat McAfee has:

• Signed a $120M deal with FanDuel
• Donated millions of that deal to charity
• Signed a multiyear extension with WWE
• Joined College GameDay
• Signed an $85M+ deal with ESPN
• Gained a recurring role on NFL Network's 'NFL GameDay Morning'
• Brought his flagship show to ESPN

Despite recent controversies, ESPN executives remain happy with McAfee.

He’s making an impact across multiple platforms—and the Washington Post reported his show is profitable .

McAfee connects with the younger sports fans who are tuning out linear television, according to ESPN president of content Burke Magnus and chairman Jimmy Pitaro. As Magnus noted at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit in New York, McAfee created his show, and became a star, completely on his own before signing with ESPN.?

Third, he draws the best guest list of any show on ESPN. "Who else can make a call and get Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Bill Belichick, and Nick Saban?" writes Michael McCarthy .

Fourth, he’s been a phenomenal addition to College GameDay, giving the venerable show a much-needed jolt in the arm. His weekly field goal competition is hilarious. ESPN’s legal team wasn’t sure about the segment, but McAfee’s instincts were right.

“Yes, he has done some things and said some things that required us to have conversations. It’s a very productive relationship that he has with myself, with Jimmy, and Mike Foss, who essentially runs the show,” said Magnus about McAfee at Tuned In.

“Pat is extremely open. Never once has he been like, despite the construct of the relationship, ‘I don’t want to talk to you guys, leave me alone.’ … It’s never been any of that. It’s always been like, ‘How can I get better?’ He appreciates the megaphone that ESPN provides to him—and to his aspirations and his business.”

From the start, “The Pat McAfee Show” broke all the usual sports broadcasting molds. McAfee made jokes, spoke his mind without holding back, and even dressed in his signature tank tops and casual clothes — a big contrast from everyone in suits on their other shows.

This approach, often polarizing, has set him apart. For viewers, it felt like tuning in to a friend’s podcast rather than a typical ESPN broadcast. The authenticity has drawn a massive crowd, and now, McAfee’s show has become a top performer—bringing in viewers who weren’t even regular ESPN fans.

What do you think about McAfee's story and his approach to sports media?

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