ESPN is reportedly in discussions with Pat McAfee about launching an alternate broadcast for "Monday Night Football," according to The Athletic, which cited anonymous sources. The plan is contingent on approval from the National Football League.
If an agreement is reached, McAfee and his team could begin an alternative telecast, likely to air on ESPN2, in weeks when the popular "Manningcast" — featuring brothers Peyton and Eli Manning — is not scheduled. Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions has an existing long-term deal with ESPN, and their broadcast will continue without changes.
McAfee's potential involvement in a "Monday Night Football" alternate broadcast was part of his contract negotiations with ESPN earlier this year, a deal that could reportedly pay him between $60 million and $65 million annually. The Mannings are slated to cover 12 games plus Super Bowl 2027, while McAfee could potentially handle around eight games, though an exact number has not been finalized.
ESPN announced in August that McAfee would join "Monday Night Countdown" as a panelist, in addition to his existing roles as host of his daily talk show and an analyst for "College GameDay."
McAfee has prior experience with alternate broadcasts, having hosted one for the college football national championship between Miami and Indiana on ESPN2 in January. His highest-rated alternate telecast, for the Ohio State-Oregon game on New Year's Day 2025, drew 2.4 million viewers, according to The Athletic.
ESPN already pays the NFL approximately $2.7 billion annually for broadcast rights, and the league might impose an additional fee for a McAfee-led alternate broadcast. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made multiple appearances on "The Pat McAfee Show."
McAfee's move to ESPN's daytime lineup with his talk show began in 2023, following his joining the "College GameDay" cast in 2022. He will join "Monday Night Football" alongside host Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears, and fellow newcomer Jason McCourty. Ryan Clark, who had been with the network for 11 years, was recently let go.