ESPN expands 'Monday Night Countdown' with Pat McAfee

ESPN announced on Tuesday morning that Pat McAfee will be an analyst each week on "Monday Night Countdown," the pregame show that airs before the prime-time game capping each week of NFL action. The move expands both the show's cast and McAfee's already substantial presence at the network.

McAfee will sit alongside host Scott Van Pelt, analysts Jason Kelce and Marcus Spears, and Jason McCourty on the Monday night offering. The show also includes reporter Michelle Beisener-Buck and insider Adam Schefter, as reported by NBC Sports. Sports Illustrated also confirmed McAfee's new role, noting he will join Van Pelt, Kelce, Spears, and McCourty.

McAfee's growing role at ESPN

McAfee already hosts a daily TV show and appears on "College GameDay" every Saturday during the college football season, as reported by Sports Illustrated. His addition to "Monday Night Countdown" further cements his status as one of the biggest faces of ESPN, alongside Stephen A. Smith, according to Sports Illustrated.

NBC Sports reports that ESPN is preparing to sign McAfee to a global deal worth upwards of $60 million per year. The outlet characterized the move as part of McAfee's "takeover" of the network, noting that "more money means more McAfee." The report also highlighted McAfee's ambition, describing him as someone who "never settles for what he has" and is "always obsessing for more."

Album release and other ventures

Last week, McAfee released a new album, "The Diary of a Polarizing Figure," which includes songs titled "Rich as S---" and "Pitbull & A Mugshot," as reported by Sports Illustrated. NBC Sports suggested the album is not a one-off vanity project but a "testing of the waters" for potential superstardom beyond sports. The outlet also reported that acting is on the table, with McAfee's agent, Ari Emanuel, wanting to turn him into a movie star.

A polarizing figure

McAfee's growing prominence has drawn mixed reactions. Sports Illustrated noted that fans either love him or hate him, with the album's title reflecting his polarizing nature. The outlet also reported an incident on Monday when the start of "The Pat McAfee Show" interrupted an on-air tribute to ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, who died at age 93. The interruption happened at the end of "First Take," as shown in a video clip.

NBC Sports offered a more analytical take, describing McAfee as someone who "tends to punch down on anyone who may not find him to be their personal cup of tea." The outlet also noted that McAfee has reached "impressive heights before his 40th birthday," underscoring his rapid rise.

Looking ahead

With the new role on "Monday Night Countdown," McAfee's presence across ESPN's programming will be even more pronounced. As NBC Sports put it, "The question is when, not whether, he'll outgrow Bristol." For now, fans will get McAfee on Sundays, Mondays, and throughout the week, with Sports Illustrated wryly noting that "we will get one day a week during the football season in which we won't hear from McAfee."