Pat McAfee’s colleagues at ESPN defended the host after some questioned his fit on “College GameDay” during the 2023 college football season.
ESPN reporter Jen Lada, a member of the “CGD” crew, praised McAfee, who said Sunday that he hasn’t signed a new contract for the show beyond the 2023 season due to fan criticism.
“McAfee doesn’t need my endorsement AT ALL but he has made ‘CGD’ better & invigorated our team,” Lada wrote on X on Monday. “His fearlessness dares us to question formula & take chances. TO GROW.
“A supremely smart/talented entertainer & positive teammate who respects the sport, the show & its hardworking people.”
Kirk Herbstreit, who’s been an analyst on “GameDay” since 1996, reposted Lada’s message and wrote, “Amen.”
Lada also disagreed with one X user, who said replacing David Pollack with McAfee “was a big mistake” for the show.
“Pollack offers much more insight,” X user Steve Wolf Sr. wrote. “McAfee is all about himself.”
Lada replied, “DP is one of my favorite humans on this planet. And I can assure you your last statement is false.”
McAfee, who left FanDuel for a five-year $85 million deal with ESPN in May, spoke publicly about the criticism on Sunday.
The former NFL punter stirred buzz about his future when he responded to a post on X from The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, who shared feedback regarding the host’s work on the weekly program.
Vannini said the outlet’s reviews were “very mixed,” and highlighted two that read: “I don’t watch GameDay anymore solely because of Pat McAfee” and “I think Pat McAfee adds a great energy to GameDay and I don’t understand the hate for him at all.”
The poll said 48.9 percent of people “don’t like” McAfee as a mainstay on “CGD.”
“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 on X. “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.”
McAfee is in his second season as a regular analyst on “CGD.”
He joined the weekly program in September 2022, when ESPN announced his multi-year deal that included Super Bowl and Pro Bowl coverage, as well as select appearances on weekday morning editions of “Get Up.”
McAfee then took his former FanDuel program, “The Pat McAfee Show, to ESPN, which launched on Sept. 7, 2023.