Former NFL All-Pro punter turned sports media personality Pat McAfee announced he's returning to ESPN's long-running college football live roadshow College GameDay for the 2024 season.
“I’m back,” McAfee said in the video showing a montage of clips from past GameDay appearances.
“Let’s have the greatest year of college football in the history of college football,” a message read toward the end of the video.
McAfee's GameDay future was reported to be in limbo last month as he didn't have a new contract with the live roadshow. The former punter had contributed to GameDay during each of the past two seasons, but had a separate deal with ESPN after the network acquired his daily podcast, the Pat McAfee Show, in 2023.
McAfee, 37, has become a polarizing on the show, having responded to a poll shared by the Athletic last October in which 48.9% of respondents said they didn't like him on the program.
"To the 49%, I have some great news.. I have heard you all very loud and clear since the beginning of my stint with GameDay," McAfee wrote at the time. "It’s one of the biggest reasons why I have not resigned a contract with the legendary show. I’m not right for some crowds and the 'distinguished' College Football folks are definitely one of those. Excited to enjoy the rest of this year, that’s shaping up to be a GREAT one, and then see what the future holds."
McAfee paused his role as WWE's color commentator during the college football season in 2023, which he resumed earlier this year after his obligations to GameDay concluded. The former punter has also stirred controversy since his show, which still simulcasts live and unedited on YouTube, was picked up by ESPN last year, which included longtime friend and recurring guest, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, seemingly implying that ABC talk show host Jimmy Kimmel would be named in the documents related to late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which were proven false, as well as the titular host calling former ESPN executive Norby Williamson a "rat" and accusing him of trying to sabotage his program prior to Williamson's resignation in April.
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