It seems like Ian Rapoport’s time with the Pat McAfee Show is over. After all of the speculation about whether or not ESPN would allow the NFL Network insider to appear on the show once McAfee and crew move to network TV, it turns out that it is Rapoport that is making the change.
He will be part of a new show on NFL+ and NFL Network called NFL Insiders. It will air live on NFL+ at noon. It will re-air at 1 pm on linear TV.
“We are genuinely pumped for you, though, because they’re not just handing out daily shows over there at NFL Network. That’s not something they do,” McAfee said. “You know what I mean? Good Morning Football gets rerun seven times I think through the day and then NFL Total Access is at night. I’ve actually like reached out to NFL Network, not this cycle but like two cycles ago…that conversation went pretty slowly so I think you should be incredibly proud of yourself, Rap. You’ve done great.”
McAfee then ribbed Rapoport a little bit for the narrative surrounding his move to ESPN. McAfee said he fought hard to make sure wherever he took the show would allow him to have Rapoport on instead of forcing another NFL reporter on in his place. The audience may not have understood that and also came after McAfee. Now, all of that is irrelevant.
“Our people were calling me a sell-out to protect you, who works for the NFL full-time and and we’re attacking me for, like, not being able to have it. It was actually a big piece of the negotiation is being able to have our people on and now you say ‘yeah, actually give me a show that’s noon to three. I’m heartbroken about it.”
There are no hard feelings though. McAfee made it clear that all he wants to do is celebrate Rapoport’s success.
“I am pumped for you. I think your show’s going to be amazing,” McAfee said. “I think we’re probably going to end up quoting it a bunch because of the amount of information it’s going to come out of it. It’s actually a pretty sound business move by the NFL Network folks to do it.”
