FBI Advised Pat McAfee to Wear Bulletproof Vest After Charlie Kirk Assassination, Report Says
The FBI reportedly recommended the ESPN personality take enhanced safety measures in the week following the 2025 killing of the conservative activist.
Federal agents advised ESPN personality Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a recent report. The FBI's recommendation came in the week after Kirk was killed in September 2025.
Sources told Front Office Sports that McAfee regularly receives threatening messages, including death threats. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The security concerns for McAfee emerged during a period of increased scrutiny for the sports media personality. This scrutiny intensified after his appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" at the University of Utah. McAfee expressed feeling uncomfortable due to his treatment by the university and its students, referencing a video created by students that he felt was mocking.
He also voiced frustration over a student competitor in a kicking contest who remarked, "Only $1 million?" McAfee alluded to Kirk's assassination during his Monday show, asking, "Has anything really scary happened at, like, a college gathering in the state of Utah recently?"
ESPN released a statement Tuesday night affirming their commitment to the safety of their team. "The safety and security of our on-air team, crew and fans is paramount at 'College GameDay,'" the network stated. "We are committed to ensuring a safe environment, and given the very real threats that members of our team face, we take issues involving their safety seriously. We support Pat and recognize the very real and valid concerns he has around safety and security."
The University of Utah also issued an apology Monday night for the video, which they acknowledged "missed the mark" despite intending to foster "light-hearted engagement." The university stated that it takes "full accountability" for the social media content and has reached out to McAfee to express regret, assuring him and his crew that they are "always welcome" at the University of Utah.