FBI Advised Pat McAfee to Wear Bulletproof Vest After Charlie Kirk Assassination
The FBI issued a warning to ESPN commentator Pat McAfee regarding personal safety following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation advised ESPN commentator Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest in the week after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a source with knowledge of the situation told OutKick. McAfee recently alluded to Kirk's killing when explaining his discomfort with filming ESPN's "College GameDay" on the Utah Valley University campus.
"And then I thought to myself, has anything like really scary happened at like a college gathering in the state of Utah recently?" McAfee said on his show Monday. "Like, do we think we should be amplifying reasons for why people hate my guts as a university? I don’t know."
Front Office Sports was the first to report the FBI's recommendation to McAfee.
ESPN released a statement acknowledging the advisory, saying the network takes all threats seriously and "support[s] Pat and recognize the very real and valid concerns he has around safety and security."
The specific reasons for McAfee's unease on the Utah campus remain unclear. However, an official university account had previously shared a viral video that students used to criticize McAfee's on-air demeanor.
Kirk's assassination in 2025 has heightened concerns among public figures in media about their personal safety, especially those with polarizing viewpoints. McAfee, a prominent figure in sports media, has frequently been the subject of online criticism and accusations, particularly after an interview with President Trump earlier this year.
"College GameDay," which airs weekly from different college campuses, features McAfee as a regular commentator. McAfee did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The story will be updated if a statement is provided.