History of Pat McAfee in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

Pat McAfee is a prominent American sports analyst, media personality, and former professional football player. He gained initial fame as an All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. Following his retirement from professional football, McAfee successfully transitioned into the sports media landscape, establishing a highly influential digital platform. He is best known for 'The Pat McAfee Show,' a popular daily talk show characterized by its energetic, informal style and candid interviews with athletes and sports figures. In addition to his broadcasting work, he has had high-profile stints in professional wrestling as a commentator and performer for WWE. McAfee is widely recognized for his charismatic persona, his ability to bridge the gap between traditional sports journalism and new media, and his significant impact on modern sports entertainment and pop culture.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

May 2, 1987: Birth of Pat McAfee

On May 2, 1987, Patrick Justin McAfee was born. He would eventually go on to become a prominent sports analyst, professional football punter, and professional wrestler.

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2007: Pat McAfee's 2007 Collegiate Football Season

During the 2007 season, Pat McAfee experienced a mix of challenges and achievements while playing for West Virginia University. He faced a difficult loss against the Pitt Panthers that eliminated the team from the BCS National Championship, yet he excelled individually by being named a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award, receiving Big East Special Team Player of the week honors three times, earning second-team All-Big East status, and winning the Scott Shirley Award for the second year in a row.

2009: Pat McAfee's 2009 Pre-Draft Activities

During 2009, Pat McAfee participated in the Senior Bowl as a kicker for the South team alongside teammates Pat White and Ellis Lankster. In 2009, he also secured a victory in the "round the world" kicking competition at the 11th annual State Farm College Football All-Star Challenge and conducted team workouts for the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots after failing to receive an invitation to the NFL Combine.

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2009: Pat McAfee's Rookie Season and NFL Draft Selection

In 2009, Pat McAfee was selected 222nd overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL draft. Throughout the 2009 season, he served as the team's punter, kickoff specialist, and holder. His rookie year saw the team win the AFC South and the AFC Championship, eventually reaching Super Bowl XLIV where they lost to the New Orleans Saints. Due to his performance during the 2009 season, he was honored with a selection to the 2009 NFL All-Rookie Team.

2009: Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts

In 2009, Pat McAfee was selected by the Indianapolis Colts during the seventh round of the NFL draft, marking the beginning of his professional football career.

2011: Pat McAfee 2011 Punting Season

During the 2011 NFL season, Pat McAfee achieved a career-defining performance by maintaining a 46.6-yard punting average, setting the stage for his improved statistics in subsequent years.

2013: Pat McAfee's Notable Tackle on Trindon Holliday

During Week 7 of the 2013 NFL season, punter Pat McAfee delivered a significant hit on Trindon Holliday, an event that drew high praise from broadcaster Cris Collinsworth, who noted that McAfee would become a legend among kickers for his physical play.

January 4, 2014: Locker Room Photo Incident

On January 4, 2014, Pat McAfee unintentionally tweeted a photo from the Indianapolis Colts locker room that featured a nearly nude Andrew Luck in the background while McAfee was attempting to photograph Adam Vinatieri. McAfee subsequently apologized for the accidental post and was fined $10,000 by the Colts organization for the incident.

September 2014: Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month

In September 2014, Pat McAfee earned the title of AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his outstanding performance, which included leading the NFL in punting average and touchbacks while successfully executing two onside kicks.

December 23, 2014: First Pro Bowl Selection

On December 23, 2014, Pat McAfee was officially selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the first time in his professional football career.

2014: Earned All-Pro Honors

During the 2014 season, Pat McAfee reached a significant career milestone by being named an All-Pro player for his outstanding performance as a placekicker.

January 2, 2015: Selected as First Team All-Pro Punter

On January 2, 2015, the Associated Press recognized Pat McAfee's excellence on the field by naming him the First Team All-Pro punter.

2015: McAfee's 2015 Season Milestones

During the 2015 season, Pat McAfee was honored as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Tennessee Titans. Throughout that same year, he served as an emergency quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after the roster's primary quarterbacks suffered injuries, though he did not record any game snaps. Additionally, he maintained his versatility by participating in special fake punt plays.

December 20, 2016: Selection to Second Pro Bowl

On December 20, 2016, Pat McAfee was officially named to his second career Pro Bowl selection, recognizing his excellence as a punter in the NFL.

2016: Retirement and Transition to Media

Following the conclusion of the 2016 NFL season, Pat McAfee retired from professional football and began a new career path at Barstool Sports. During this time, he founded the Heartland division in Indianapolis and launched his radio program, The Pat McAfee Show, which aired on the SiriusXM channel Barstool Power 85.

February 2, 2017: Retirement from the NFL and transition to Barstool Sports

On February 2, 2017, Pat McAfee officially retired from the NFL after an eight-season career. He cited persistent knee issues, specifically a third surgery in four years, and a strained working relationship with Colts general manager Ryan Grigson as the primary reasons for his departure, announcing plans to join Barstool Sports as a contributor.

February 2017: Retirement from Professional Football

In February 2017, Pat McAfee officially retired from his career as a professional football player to transition into a new role as a football analyst.

August 31, 2018: Departure from Barstool Sports

On August 31, 2018, Pat McAfee officially announced his separation from Barstool Sports. He cited a lack of transparency regarding the company's business operations as the primary motivation for his decision to leave.

2018: Guest Hosting for Fox Sports

During 2018, Pat McAfee expanded his media presence by serving as a guest host for various college and NFL broadcast programs on Fox Sports.

2018: Guest Commentary Debut

During 2018, Pat McAfee served as a guest commentator for the WWE NXT TakeOver events, marking an early milestone in his broadcasting career with the company.

2018: Establishment of Pat McAfee Inc.

In 2018, following his departure from Barstool Sports, Pat McAfee founded Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI) in Indianapolis to manage his charitable foundation and merchandise sales, while launching an initial lineup of four podcasts including The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, That's Hockey Talk, Heartland Radio 2.0, and Good Bettor Bets.

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February 2019: Signing with WWE

In February 2019, Pat McAfee officially signed a contract with WWE, formalizing his relationship with the wrestling promotion.

July 2019: Joining ESPN College Football Team

In July 2019, it was officially announced that Pat McAfee would join the ESPN Thursday Night College Football broadcasting team, further cementing his career in sports media.

August 7, 2019: Announcement of The Pat McAfee Show syndication

On August 7, 2019, it was announced that Pat McAfee would launch a two-hour weekday radio show, The Pat McAfee Show, through a partnership with DAZN and Westwood One, which also included podcast streaming and NFL shoulder content appearances.

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September 9, 2019: Launch of The Pat McAfee Show

Beginning September 9, 2019, Pat McAfee officially debuted his two-hour, weekday radio program, The Pat McAfee Show, syndicated via DAZN and Westwood One.

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2019: Attempted NFL comeback with the Chicago Bears

During the 2019 off-season, Pat McAfee attempted a return to professional football by working out for the Chicago Bears. However, the comeback effort was thwarted when his knee experienced swelling, leading to the team signing Eddy Piñeiro for the placekicker position instead.

2019: Original Airing of Wrasslin' With Sports Entertainment

In 2019, the podcast originally known as Wrasslin' With Sports Entertainment premiered, airing only a single episode before its hiatus.

August 2020: Termination of partnership with Westwood One

In August 2020, Pat McAfee ended his partnership with Westwood One, citing his opposition to FCC regulations imposed on terrestrial radio broadcasting.

September 2020: The Pat McAfee Show moves to SiriusXM

In September 2020, The Pat McAfee Show began airing on SiriusXM's Mad Dog Sports Radio every weekday from 12 to 3 pm, while continuing to maintain a live broadcast presence on YouTube with co-hosts A.J. Hawk and Darius Butler.

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2020: WWE In-Ring Debut and Feud

In 2020, McAfee engaged in a prominent feud with Adam Cole, which culminated in his in-ring debut for WWE at TakeOver XXX, where he suffered a loss.

2020: Retirement Rumors and Punting Speculation

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, fans campaigned for Pat McAfee to come out of retirement to join the Pittsburgh Steelers due to their punting struggles. McAfee fueled these rumors by posting a video of himself punting after the Steelers released punter Dustin Colquitt, though the team ultimately chose to re-sign Jordan Berry instead.

March 2021: The Best Wrestling Show Revival

In March 2021, Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI) relaunched the podcast The Best Wrestling Show, previously titled Wrasslin' With Sports Entertainment, featuring hosts Mike Mansury and Mark Madden.

September 16, 2021: Mike Tomlin Appearance on The Pat McAfee Show

On the September 16, 2021 episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin appeared as a guest and jokingly expressed his admiration for McAfee, stating he would wait for McAfee to physically deteriorate further before considering signing him as a player.

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December 9, 2021: FanDuel Sponsorship Agreement

On December 9, 2021, Pat McAfee finalized a significant four-year, $120 million business deal with FanDuel, establishing the company as the primary sponsor and the exclusive odds provider for The Pat McAfee Show.

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2021: Podcast Rebranding and Personnel Changes

As of 2021, Pat McAfee Inc. saw several updates to its podcast portfolio: Mike Rupp replaced A.Q. Shipley on That's Hockey Talk, Heartland Radio 2.0 transitioned into The Pod, and the gambling podcast Good Bettor Bets was rebranded as Hammer Dahn with the addition of Michael Lombardi.

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2021: Relocation of Pat McAfee Inc. Headquarters

In 2021, Pat McAfee announced his intention to transition the headquarters of Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI) to a repurposed former United Methodist Church located in Lawrence, Indiana.

August 2022: Departure from SiriusXM

In August 2022, SiriusXM officially ceased broadcasting The Pat McAfee Show on their platform.

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September 2022: Nomination for Pro Football Hall of Fame

In September 2022, Pat McAfee was officially named as a modern-era nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Upon receiving the news during his broadcast, McAfee expressed gratitude but humbly suggested that other players, specifically Shane Lechler, were more deserving of the honor.

December 14, 2024: Return to WWE Commentary

On December 14, 2024, Pat McAfee made his return to WWE to provide commentary for Saturday Night's Main Event, working alongside Michael Cole and Jesse Ventura.

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