ESPN Considers Pat McAfee for Monday Night Football Alternative Broadcast Amid ManningCast Viewership Dip
Network reportedly weighing Pat McAfee's involvement to boost ratings for its alternate NFL broadcasts, as ManningCast numbers decline.
ESPN is reportedly exploring the possibility of bringing in Pat McAfee to bolster its alternate broadcasts for Monday Night Football as viewership for the Eli and Peyton Manning-hosted "ManningCast" has seen a decline in the early weeks of the NFL season.
According to reports, the ManningCast drew 705,000 viewers for the Broncos-Chiefs game in Week 1, a figure that subsequently dropped to 661,000 for the Giants-Rams clash the following week. While the percentage of viewers for the alternate broadcast technically increased from 3 percent to 3.4 percent during this period, overall numbers have trended downward.
ManningCast is currently not scheduled for Week 3 of the NFL season, fueling speculation about potential changes. Reports from earlier in the year indicated that ESPN had considered adding McAfee to their Monday Night Football alternate broadcasts, pending NFL approval. The network's initial plans reportedly involved McAfee covering games on Mondays when the Manning brothers were not scheduled to appear.
ManningCast currently airs 10 times per year. A show featuring McAfee, similar to the Manning brothers' alternate broadcast, would also likely air on ESPN2, potentially creating a competitive dynamic between the two alternative broadcasts.
This consideration for McAfee comes shortly after some ESPN viewers expressed dissatisfaction with the additions of McAfee and Stephen A. Smith to "Monday Night Countdown." Reports suggest ESPN has allocated substantial contract funds, estimated between $80 million and $86 million, for Smith and McAfee.
Fans voiced their opinions on social media platforms like X, with some criticizing the pairing of McAfee and Smith on "Monday Night Countdown." Criticisms included descriptions of the broadcast being "unwatchable" and comments about "overkill" and "loudmouths."
ESPN has declined to comment on the reports regarding McAfee's potential involvement.