Pat McAfee isn’t just your typical sports analyst. Nope, this guy’s done it all. A former NFL punter turned sports analyst, color commentator, occasional WWE wrestler, and host of The Pat McAfee Show—you could say he’s made quite the pivot from the gridiron. Since hanging up his cleats in 2017 after eight seasons with the Colts, McAfee’s brought his no-filter, always-entertaining style to sports media. And it’s working. Nah, folks, it’s poppin’.
In 2023, McAfee reportedly locked in an $85 million, five-year deal with ESPN to bring The Pat McAfee Show to the network—yup, the show that gives us inside scoops from the mouths of top players and coaches, and even insiders. He’s also part of ESPN’s College GameDay crew and regularly lends his voice to WWE. But wait a minute, did we mention he’s got a full-size wrestling ring at his house? Yeah, this guy’s not just dabbling in wrestling; he’s all-in (Jerry Jones would know a thing or two about being all-in, wouldn’t he?).
Surely, if the NFL hadn’t called, WWE might’ve had him full-time. But beyond the limelight, McAfee’s a family guy. He married his longtime girlfriend, Samantha, in 2020, after they went public together on her social media. Fast forward a bit, and they’ve got a daughter, Mackenzie. (Yep, “Mackenzie” in the States isn’t quite what it is in Scotland—but hey, it’s all love.)
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So, what about the Pat McAfee nationality mystery? McAfee’s heritage has sparked a fair bit of curiosity, and let’s be honest, his “no apologies” style might make him feel like he’s from anywhere. But let’s see what McAfee himself has to say on the matter.
What is Pat McAfee’s Nationality & Ethnicity?
It’s safe to say that Pat McAfee’s roots are as American as they come. Born on May 2, 1987, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pat’s often labeled as an “American sports analyst” in online bios. No surprises there, right?
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Well, not so fast—because in a 2013 X (formerly Twitter) post, McAfee threw in a twist: “I’m Irish, my dad’s Catholic… But I also like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Forrest Gump was a specialist… #GoIrish.” Got you thinking, didn’t it?
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Is McAfee's $85 million ESPN deal proof that sports media is the new sports arena?
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I’m Irish, my dads catholic.. But I also like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Forrest Gump was a specialist (KR).. I’m tore up about 2night…#GoIrish
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 8, 2013
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So, can we call him Irish? Sort of. He’s American through and through. But there’s definitely a hint of Irish genes—especially if we’re talking about his legendary love for good drinks. Let’s just say he carries his roots with pride while chugging it down. You can call him a weapon!
Now, what’s next for McAfee? Haha, not a question worth answering because knowing him, he’s probably got: A) Nothing huge or B) Something huge that even does not even have any clue about. You know people who go with the flow. That’s this Irish-American bloke for you.
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Is McAfee's $85 million ESPN deal proof that sports media is the new sports arena?