In December, The Athletic will be highlighting coaches, athletes and others who have made a significant impact on U.S. sports. that we play, as well as in the fields of sports business, media and culture. Next up in the series is our sports media honoree: Pat McAfee, a former NFL player who has achieved major success in broadcast media (ESPN’s “College GameDay” and WWE’s “Smackdown”) as well as “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube. The full list is here.
He returned to the Tennessee River in Knoxville. He wrestled Vince McMahon and Steve Austin at WrestleMania 38 in Dallas. He hosted his daily YouTube show anonymously from Indianapolis. If it seemed like Pat McAfee was everywhere in 2022, that’s because he was a lot. The rising star is The Athletic’s Sports Media Person of the Year.
To mark the occasion, instead of hearing from McAfee himself, the piece below offers thoughts from seven people who worked with him in 2022.
The ‘College GameDay’ producer
“What Pat brings every week is instant juice to the show,” says Jim Gaiero, ESPN’s “College GameDay” producer since 2016. “He has an extraordinary ability to engage with a live crowd. . Natural show. My favorite moment this year was when he went back to the Tennessee River before the Tennessee-Alabama game. We were talking on the Friday before the show and I was like, ‘We’re going to get you down with (composer) Jess Sims at Vol Navy (where boats sail the Tennessee River tail to tail).’ Pat replies, ‘There’s a river there, so I feel like I have to jump in.’ I said to him, ‘Okay, you do.’ People have been asking all day if what are you going to do, and I kept saying, ‘Whatever the hell you want. .’ He ends up making a big splash at the back of the river in the show. It was fun.”
The ‘Friday Night Smackdown’ host
“I first met Pat in late 2017 when WWE was looking for talent from outside the wrestling world to add insight to our rapidly growing world at NXT,” says Michael Cole, longtime WWE announcer. “My first impression of Pat was how genuine he was. There was no face, no pretence, just a cool person with great energy and enthusiasm. For whatever reason, we just clicked and became close friends. That chemistry would later pay off in our incredible run as a tandem on ‘Friday Night Smackdown’ on Fox.
“Pat immediately became successful as a broadcaster in our universe because of two things: First, Pat is a supporter, and it stands out on the air. He wasn’t trained to be a traditional broadcaster so he doesn’t have the built-in style that we had to let go of. His love for the product just comes from him. Second, Pat has endless energy and charisma. This may interest you : Sources: Lakers extend Rob Pelinka through 2026 to align with coach Darvin Ham’s first-year contract. He makes everything sound big and important. He is one of the hardest working people I have ever been around. He treats everyone equally, is selfless, and has a magnetic personality that draws people to him.
“Pat helped me grow my passion for our business. For 25 years I’ve been sitting in that chair in the sports booth calling sports entertainment every week. I missed two television shows during that time. As one can imagine, that amount of repetition can get boring after a while. Pat changed all that, and every week was a new game and a new chapter in my career. Pat also gave me the confidence to open up and enjoy the outdoors. One of the highlights of my career was calling Pat’s WrestleMania match. He deserves all his success.”
‘The Pat McAfee Show’ producer
Ty Schmit, who has produced McAfee’s YouTube show since 2017, says: “As a guy who grew up watching and loving ‘College GameDay,’ to have Pat at that table every weekend is a big deal. (WrestleMania 38 last April) and then hears that the glass is broken and (Stone Cold) Steve Austin walks down the aisle at Jerry World, culminating in Pat sharing a beer with Stone Cold before getting the Stone Cold Stunner , it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Ever seen. I got to do some crazy cool stuff for Pat, and at some point, I’ll look back at it all. This may interest you : Lakes Jam campers are getting ready for a weekend of music and more.’ and I have to force myself because it doesn’t seem real. It’s not lost on me, or anyone who works for Pat, how lucky we are.
“We moved to a new big office (The FanDuel ThunderDome) this year and we were plagued with the same problems we faced in our old office. Regardless of new sponsors or changes in and the distribution that has happened with the show, the format and content have not changed. Pat always rolls with the punches when things don’t go well, and the show is better for it. He lets the rest of us know that we don’t need to panic. That’s one of the things that makes the show special. Pat is really immersed in living in the moment for all of us, focusing on the task at hand and enjoying the process.”
The ESPN chairman
“It’s been amazing to see what Pat has accomplished without the support of a major sports media company,” says Jimmy Pitaro, who was instrumental in bringing McAfee back to ESPN and did like 2022. “I think it’s because I’m real. , real and fearless. Her top qualities are what we’re looking for – she’s willing to speak her mind, she’s honest, she’s incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. To see also : Amazon Prime Video Prepares Photo 3 Contract With Nollywood Nemsia Movies. He has a strong following among young fans, and has a significant and engaging presence in the community. It is a rare talent that I and the youth can find valuable.”
The ‘College GameDay’ on-air colleague
“I can’t even describe what Pat said on the show to me,” says college football coach Kirk Herbstreit. “I’ve known Pat for several years. I have been asking him to come and join us on ‘GameDay.’ I was a little happy that he and the company were able to agree. He brings an incredible amount of real and genuine energy. It’s not just in the air. It’s in meetings. He works on it, he takes it (seriously). He likes the show. Even though he is wild, crazy and fun, you can see how much respect he has for it. For me personally, 27 years of this, I can’t remember having more fun than I’ve had this year, and Pat is definitely a big part of that.”
‘The Pat McAfee Show’ analyst
A.J. “We met briefly when I was playing a preseason game for the Bengals,” he says. Hawk, who played 11 seasons in the NFL, was part of the Super Bowl champion on Feb. 2011, and is now a full-time member of McAfee’s YouTube program. “Years later I started coming on his show every few months. Pat is Pat all the time. No off-camera/off-mic Pat. People ask me if he lives happy and funny. Always one. I started doing five days a week with Pat a few years ago. It all happened organically and I love it. I’m really looking forward to joining the show every day. Pat has a unique ability to recognize talent and give them the opportunity to showcase what they have. He is very giving of his time and money.”
Before the Sign: How Pat McAfee turned a $10K newspaper gig into a media star
The ‘College GameDay’ coordinating producer
“From the moment Pat stepped onto the ‘GameDay’ stage, he delivered the show with immediate energy and enthusiasm,” said Drew Gallagher, who oversees the production of ESPN’s college sports programming, including ‘College GameDay’ ‘ and the NFL. ABC diagram. “He immediately created a connection with our crowd and our viewers. Pat’s ability to connect and relate to the audience, and vice versa, is pure and accurate. Watching the crowd respond to Pat week each one, no matter where we were going, was a clear sign to follow the wonderful and faithful path he made.
“Pat excels in spontaneous conversation, and our group discussions really benefited from Pat’s ability to speak from a strong point of view. Countless times this season he would say something random that would make us laugh in the truck or say, ‘Well, he didn’t get that point of view.’ The beauty of Pat is that there are none of them. is organized. But that doesn’t come without a foundation of knowledge, and Pat’s preparations were relentless the entire time. The only thing that mattered was what Pat brought to the show behind the scenes. Her positive energy attracts everyone as soon as she walks into our production office. It’s hard not to smile when you’re around Pat. He is one of the most genuine and kind hearted people you will ever meet.
“I remember our Friday (Sept. 16) at Appalachian State. Pat had just done his daily show and there was a huge crowd of students gathered behind our set. Pat stayed at least another full hour, spending only one time talking to the students. More than just autographs and selfies, he chatted and interacted with everyone who wanted to get a chance to see him. Events like this were played every week in some form – in Kansas, where the crowd made him drink his 32-ounce drink seconds before we went on the air; Tennessee, where he voluntarily conducted the “Pride of the Southland Band” with his old friend Peyton Manning; Montana State, where he fought passionately to the ground at the encouragement of the rodeo club. Working with Pat was a great reminder to all of us to never take our audience for granted – and never take ourselves too seriously. ”
Athletes of the Year: Athletes and coaches who defined 2022
(Photo: Sean Reilly / The Athletic; photo: Steve Limentani / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
What is Undertaker salary?
| Full name | Mark William Calaway |
|---|---|
| Salary | $2.5 million |
| The Undertaker’s Net worth (2022) | $17 million |
| A source of wealth | Professional wrestling |
| Agreements | Real estate sales with business partner Scott Everhart |
What was Tom Brady’s highest salary?
He began taking a unique approach to his contracts in 2013 when he renegotiated the four-year, $72 million contract extension he signed in 2010 that made him the highest paid player in the most of the NFL at $ 18 million per year. Brady began offering discounts to his hometown Patriots instead of driving the market.
What was Tom Brady’s salary? 2020: two-year, $50 million contract. 2021: one-year, $25 million extension. 2022: one year, $15 million extension.
Who is the highest paid NFL QB?
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers â highest paid player in the NFL
- Aaron Rodgers contract: 4 years, $200 million ($150.8 million guaranteed)
- Aaron Rodgers Salary: $26.47 million (2022)
- Signing bonus: $40.8 million.
- Average annual salary: $50 million.
What was Tom Brady’s last contract worth?
Brady Current Contract Previous Contract: 1 Year, $25,000,000. 2022-23 salary: $1,120,000.
How much money did Pat McAfee make from FanDuel?
Last month, McAfee, who openly talks about gambling on his show, made a sponsorship deal with FanDuel, a division of Flutter Entertainment Plc, where he will be paid $ 120 million over four years.
How much does ESPN pay Pat McAfee? $30 million a year.
How much did Pat McAfee make in his NFL career?
According to Spotrac, McAfee earned more than $15 million during his NFL career.
How much is Pat McAfee WWE contract worth?
He signed a good 5-year contract worth $14 million in 2014 with $5 million guaranteed. Pat earned about $4.7 million with his team over the past five seasons. His current net worth is about $20 million.
What celebrity has the biggest private plane?
The Boeing 767-200ER Rapper Drake is the largest plane among the famous private jets on our list. In its original form, it would have room not only for his entourage but also for their extended families!
How much is Kim Kardashians private jet? Kim Kardashian has strict rules set for passengers who want a seat on her $150 million private jet – and she makes no exception with her family members.
Which billionaire has private jet?
Musk’s Gulfstream G700 is worth a whopping $78 million (roughly Rs 640 crore), per Mint and is likely to replace his current jet, the G650ER. Musk often uses his private jet for travel. In 2018, he flew more than 150,000 miles on his G650ER, according to the Washington Post.
Which celebrity owns private jet?
Not Just Luxury Homes and Luxury Cars, These 10 Famous People in India Have Their Own Private Jet.
- Ajay Devgn. As per reports, Ajay Devgn owns a Hawker 800 which is a six-seater jet. …
- Akshay Kumar. …
- Amitabh Bachchan. …
- Shah Rukh Khan. …
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas. …
- Hrithik Roshan. …
- Ram Charan. …
- Akkineni Nagarjuna.
Which singer has a private jet?
Diljit Dosanjh. Diljit Dosanjh became the first singer to buy a private jet in 2017, and he shared this news on his twitter account.
