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ESPN's Pat McAfee Accuses The NFL Of Disrespecting Him

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 11:41 AM ET

Pat McAfee boasts one of the largest NFL-themed shows out there and has been the host of many big moments that even some of the league's best insiders can't get.

But even as he maintains one of the biggest audiences of NFL content, McAfee feels like the league isn't giving him the respect he's earned.

In a recent video posted on X, McAfee said that he felt disrespected by the league for being given such an isolated spot to do his show during the NFL Scouting Combine last week. He thinks it was "someone at the middle level" was "flexing power" on him and his show, possibly out of jealousy.

"Someone at that middle level who has power wanted to flex the fact that they have power, I think. Created some problems, obviously,” McAfee said. “‘I’m going to have to sign off on this. You can’t do this; you can’t do that. This is what I’m saying yada yada.’ All (expletive). You know.

“Hoops were made for us to jump through for no reason because I think I’m younger than these people. So they think they can, you know. I don’t think they get it. Draft was (going) to be the same thing. Where they were going to put us, allegedly. How it was going to go, what we’re going to have to do. Flexing power while also showing disdain for me and my show and my guys all at the same time. While we have a relationship with the actual league, I think.

“With that being said, I don’t want to play their games.”

The wording in this tweet by @FOS.. here’s my view on it https://t.co/CKqHnNllZj pic.twitter.com/zC6h76rgsg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 6, 2025

Not all NFL fans were impressed by the response. Some are accusing McAfee of believing that he's more important than he really is.

"Translation : pat thinks he special and when he wasn’t treated sufficiently special by his own measure he decided he take his ball and go home. Boring," one user wrote.

For the most part though, McAfee is getting support for continuing to chug along in the face of this issue.

"Pat the people love you much more than you know or realize. We know your heart and that you’re not a big dumb (expletive)."

"Smart move on Pats part. Time and time again he shows that he doesn’t NEED these other entities to have a successful show and it seems he plans to display that again."

"Honestly, as a long time viewer, your in studio draft night extravaganzas were better than being there in person anyways. Not that it wasn't incredible to see you on stage with Billly B and Oz the Mentalist. You and the boys have always crushed the drafts in the office."

The video was made in response to a report that McAfee wouldn't be taking his show to the upcoming NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. However, McAfee has made it clear that he will be going regardless.

"ABSOLUTELY," McAfee wrote in response to someone asking if he'd be live for the draft.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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