Pat McAfee is no stranger to stirring conversation, and his recent appearance on College GameDay this past Saturday from Eugene, Oregon, proved no exception. A reel of McAfee’s on-air introduction quickly circulated online, sparking widespread commentary—some critical, some celebratory. In response, the former NFL punter-turned-media personality did not hold back.
Sharing a graphic of comments from what McAfee later called “old white people” in a video posted to his Instagram story, McAfee provided context on how he feels about criticisms from those online.
“It was nice to read those comments. I’d like to let all you old f***s know I hate you too. Never got along with that class of people, teachers, principals, you name it. Since I’m a kid, always hated me, it’s kind of a part of life,” McAfee said, addressing viewers and critics alike.
The comments highlight a recurring theme in McAfee’s public persona. A mix of irreverence, self-assuredness, and an instinct to confront detractors head-on. Known for blending sports commentary with humor and bold opinions. McAfee has cultivated a following that thrives on his willingness to push boundaries, both on television and online.
His commentary also included a pointed nod to the broadcasting establishment, particularly ESPN veterans, a group he says has consistently expressed some disdain for him over the years.
“To think about old white people and old ESPN people. Those are really the people that hate me the most at this stage of life. Now, granted, there’s some other groups that certainly have threatened my life on a pretty regular basis. I’d say they hate me too. But throughout the entirety old whites and the old ESPN people over the last like three years have really hated me. That’s who all the producers are of GameDay too. So now you know that’s it’s been a fun run. College football is great,” McAfee said.
McAfee hinted at the production staff in his message relating them to the persona he was speaking about. However he did not name any names or mention his potential future with the program.
The comments reflect both McAfee’s contentious relationship with portions of the sports media world. Plus his enduring enthusiasm for college football. McAfee has not been shy about challenging ESPN management, including a very public feud with former ESPN executive Norby Williamson.
McAfee joined College GameDay on a full time basis in 2022, and has become the defacto closer to the program with his final selection following the retirement of Lee Corso.
ESPN has not released any statement on McAfee’s latest comments regarding “ESPN people.”
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