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In a groundbreaking deal, popular sports personality Pat McAfee has signed a five-year contract with ESPN worth around $85 million, according to Andrew Marchand of The New York Post.
While the deal between ESPN and McAfee is estimated to be worth around $17 million annually. His previous deal, with FanDuel, was reportedly four-years for $120 million.
The agreement, set to take effect this fall, will bring the next chapter of “The Pat McAfee Show” to various platforms, including ESPN’s cable channel, its free YouTube channel, and its direct-to-consumer streaming service, ESPN+.
ESPN declined to comment to the post on the specifics of the deal.
The deal includes McAfee;s role as a weekly analyst on the renowned “College Football GameDay” and grants him full control over all aspects of his show, including the option to invite guests like NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
McAfee, who recently became a father to a baby girl, expressed a desire to alleviate the burdens of running his business and will delegate most of the behind-the-scenes tasks to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol.
In return for their investment, ESPN will receive 230 fully produced shows each year, which they can monetize through advertising. The network has high expectations for McAfee’s show, believing it will outperform current programs like SportsCenter and Max Kellerman’s “This Just In,” which currently occupy the 2-3 p.m. time slot on ESPN.
As ESPN looks to streamline its on-air roster in the coming months and years, it is speculated that Max Kellerman, who also co-hosts ESPN Radio’s morning show, may face significant changes. Kellerman’s salary, which falls in the $5 million range, could potentially be reallocated to accommodate McAfee. However, it’s important to note that McAfee’s role extends beyond a traditional on-air personality contract.
The signing of Pat McAfee represents a strategic move by ESPN to tap into his immense popularity and engage a wider audience through his unique brand of sports commentary and entertainment.
This lucrative deal showcases the growing influence of digital media platforms and signals a shift in the landscape of sports broadcasting.