“This is Embarrassing” “Wasn’t Even a Good Punter”: NFL Fans Push Back as ESPN Exec Calls Pat McAfee “A Journalist at Heart”

Pat McAfee © Instagram/theiowahawkeyesPat McAfee has been a controversial presence on ESPN’s “College GameDay” for the last four seasons. Undoubtedly popular with some segments of the fandom, others see him as too much of an unorthodox profile for a traditional spot on ESPN’s commentary and analysis lineup.ESPN executive Mike Foss spoke on Tuesday with Front Office Sports and shared his opinion about the former NFL punter. To him, McAfee is “a journalist at heart.”NFL fans reacted to Foss’ comments on X.“This is an embarrassment. I thought this guy just worked on the show but he’s actually a network exec!?” wrote one fan.“He wasn’t even a good punter,” another person said.Some thought he was misrepresenting journalism.Some fans thought this would be the end of ESPN as we know it.What did Mike Foss say about Pat McAfee?Speaking with Front Office Sports this week, ESPN executive Mike Foss had nothing but compliments for Pat McAfee.“He is, he might be a journalist at heart,” Foss said. “I think what you find is he puts the show together each day and something piques his interest, he’s got the rolodex. He’s able to navigate waters and has built access that a lot of people don’t have the ability to do. So when he needs to get information, whether it’s on the show or off, he’s able to grab it really quickly.”McAfee not only appears on “College GameDay,” but also runs alternative broadcasts for the NFL and has his own show, the “Pat McAfee Show,” running on ESPN.Read More News:Breece Hall Injury Update: When Is NY Jets RB Coming Back?When Will Myles Garrett Be Back? Injury Update and Earliest Possible Return RevealedCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!