Pat McAfee

McAfee became engaged to Samantha Ludy in February 2019. The couple married on August 1, 2020, at Coxhall Gardens in Carmel, Indiana, in a ceremony officiated by radio host Bob Kevoian. They have two children, welcoming a daughter in May 2023 and a son in May 2026.

In October 2010, during his second NFL season, McAfee was arrested in Indianapolis and charged with public intoxication after being found wet and without a shirt near a canal in Broad Ripple. The Indianapolis Colts issued a one-game suspension following the incident, and McAfee issued a public apology shortly afterward.

Outside of broadcasting, McAfee established The Pat McAfee Foundation to support charitable initiatives. In 2021, he distributed more than $6 million to organizations that included West Virginia University Children's Hospital and youth athletic programs in his hometown.

McAfee grew up in Plum, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, where he attended Plum High School and competed in varsity soccer, volleyball, and football. During his senior year, he funded a trip to Miami for a national kicking competition using $1,400 won in a poker game. After making nine consecutive field goals in the contest, he received a scholarship offer from West Virginia University recruiting coordinator Tony Gibson.

At West Virginia, McAfee became the starting kicker as a freshman in 2005. Over four seasons with the Mountaineers, he set the school record for all-time scoring by a specialist. By his senior season in 2008, he served as both placekicker and punter, finishing as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and earning First-Team All-American honors.

The Indianapolis Colts selected McAfee in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft with the 222nd overall pick. In his rookie season, he handled punting and kickoff duties, helping the team secure the AFC Championship and reach Super Bowl XLIV, which earned him a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

McAfee established a reputation for both kicking distance and tackling ability on special teams coverage, finishing his career with 21 solo tackles. In 2014, he converted three onside kicks, led the league in punting average and kickoff touchbacks, and earned First-Team All-Pro recognition alongside his first Pro Bowl selection. He received a second Pro Bowl selection following the 2016 season.

Citing multiple knee operations and complications with the team's front office, McAfee retired from professional football in February 2017 after eight seasons with Indianapolis, having recorded 575 punts for 26,653 yards.

Immediately following his retirement from the NFL, McAfee joined Barstool Sports to launch its Indianapolis division, Barstool Heartland, and host a daily radio show. He left the digital media company in August 2018 to establish his own independent company, Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI), expanding into podcast production, merchandise, and live broadcasts.

The Pat McAfee Show quickly expanded across syndication agreements with DAZN, Westwood One, and SiriusXM before establishing a substantial daily audience through live streaming on YouTube. McAfee co-hosts the show alongside former NFL linebacker A. J. Hawk and regular contributors. In May 2023, McAfee licensed the program to ESPN in a multi-year broadcast deal, debuting on the network's television channels and digital platforms in September 2023.

Alongside his studio show, McAfee joined ESPN's College GameDay as a full-time analyst in 2022, where he introduced a weekly on-campus field goal kicking competition for student participants. He has also contributed to special alternate broadcasts across college football and NFL coverage.

A lifelong fan of professional wrestling, McAfee began working with WWE in 2018 as a pre-show panelist for NXT TakeOver events before signing a multi-year contract with the promotion in early 2019.

In April 2021, McAfee transitioned into color commentary, joining Michael Cole on the weekly SmackDown broadcast booth. Over subsequent years, he balanced his commentary duties with occasional high-profile matches, defeating Austin Theory at WrestleMania 38 and Baron Corbin at SummerSlam 2022, as well as making surprise appearances in the Royal Rumble.

McAfee returned to regular commentary on Monday Night Raw in 2024 and 2025, taking periodic leaves during the autumn months to fulfill his College GameDay broadcasting commitments before concluding his regular run with the wrestling promotion following WrestleMania 42 in 2026.