Pat McAfee’s new deal with ESPN is worth roughly ‘$85million over five years’
REVEALED: Pat McAfee’s New Deal With ESPN Is Worth About ‘$85 Million Over Five Years’…
- Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN is reportedly worth $85 million over five years
- He previously ended a $120 million Fan Duel sponsorship with his previous show
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN is worth $85 million over five years 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 more details by DailyMail.com.
McAfee, a former NFL Punter turned YouTube host, recently made headlines by leaving his daily video podcast for ESPN. Contract details were yet to be reported until Wednesday, when the Post revealed the near-nine-figure deal.
“Interesting number,” McAfee told The Post via a direct message on Twitter. “I’m not talking about the business side of it all, the actual numbers and stuff.”
The 36-year-old McAfee didn’t really explain why he left his YouTube show, which was largely funded by a four-year, $120 million sponsorship deal with FanDuel. And it remains unclear how much of that figure went directly to McAfee.
“FanDuel was the exclusive SportsBook partner of our shows,” McAfee said. SeatGeek is our exclusive ticketing partner. 5 Hour energy is our exclusive energy shot partner.. etc… etc..’
Pat McAfee’s new contract with ESPN is reportedly worth $85 million over five years
We were lucky enough to partner with them for a lot of GREAT times..it was really just making our lives easier behind the scenes. There is still a chance that we will do business with each other later on. FD will always succeed. Lots of GREAT people there. I am grateful to them.’
Fanduel declined to comment on the Post.
Now, McAfee will reportedly make about $17 million a year from ESPN.
His duties include his daily show, which will air daily one-hour episodes on the cable network, ESPN’s YouTube channel, and ESPN+. In addition, he will continue to appear on ESPN’s college football studio show, “College Football GameDay,” and will retain control of the show’s production.
“I will pay my people and we will fully produce the show,” McAfee told the Post via DM. ‘[ESPN] will handle a lot more of the backend stuff while also providing a platform that is linearly incomparable with a network of talent that is deep and amazing.
McAfee’s new show will continue to include co-host AJ Hawk (right), an ex-Packers linebacker
“Their production assets, league rights opportunities and access to everything in the world of sport makes 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, subsequently described ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro as a “straight shooter” and insisted the two have a promising relationship.
As a result of the deal with McAfee, 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 leading layoffs across all of its businesses, including ESPN, the longtime host’s reported $5 million annual salary may be too much to keep.