Pat McAfee doesn’t want Troy Aikman’s job on ESPN. In fact, the ESPN star says traditional color commentary simply isn’t for him anymore.
What We Know: Tory Aikman recently told The Ticket in Dallas that he’ll become a free agent after this season. Earlier this week, a Front Office Sports column floated the idea of McAfee as a possible replacement for Aikman in the Monday Night Football booth. However, McAfee has tried the analyst chair before, joining ESPN’s Thursday night college football booth in 2019. However, McAfee made it clear on Thursday’s Pat McAfee Show that he has no interest in pursuing a role in the broadcast booth.
What They Said: (all quotes via The Pat McAfee Show):
Pat McAfee says he’s not interested in joining the Monday Night Football booth: “There’s been zero conversations about it. But there’s Monday Night Football contract business happening in a very public way. We are big fans of Joe and Troy and of the Monday Night Football operation. That’s for them to figure out.”
Pat McAfee says he hated the role when he tried it previously: “I am not supposed to be a color commentator for football. That is something I’ve decided. I had a chance to try it a couple of times. I hated it and got bored. For the field pass, I do play-by-play. I am not a good enough play-by-play person to be doing any of these big-time games, but I am pretty perfect for an alt cast. We have been very happy and content with where I’m at. My brain, in the way I operate, is not good to be a color commentator for a football game.”
Pat McAfee has told ESPN that he’s not interested in a color analyst in the booth role: “I’m not supposed to be in a football booth. Especially in a traditional color commentator. That decision has been made years ago. So everybody’s saying, “Well, until we hear it, and if we see it.” There’s never been a conversation about that ever with anybody. I understand that, and ESPN understands that.”
What Remains Unclear: Still, ESPN has not named a successor if Aikman leaves. Joe Buck, by contrast, signed a six-year extension last month. For now, ESPN executives have stayed quiet on the booth’s future.
What It Means: Ultimately, McAfee sees his future in alternate broadcasts, not the main booth. Accordingly, his Monday Night Football Field Pass alt-cast debuts October 19 with Commanders-49ers. Plus, he still hosts his daily show and works College GameDay and NFL Live on ESPN. However, the timing is interesting with McAfee’s statements coming during his reported on-going extension conversations with ESPN on a new deal.
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