Pat McAfee was born on May 2, 1987, in Plum, Pennsylvania. He attended Plum High School, where he played several sports before earning a football scholarship to West Virginia University. At West Virginia, McAfee established himself as a specialist and became one of the most accomplished kickers in the program’s history. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, beginning an eight-year professional football career.

McAfee spent his entire NFL career with the Colts, earning two Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014. He retired after the 2016 season and quickly transitioned into sports media. He launched The Pat McAfee Show in 2019, initially building its audience independently through digital platforms and radio. The show’s combination of sports analysis, interviews, humor, and an informal atmosphere helped it become a major sports media brand.

Pat McAfee joined College GameDay in 2022 and has since become one of its regular analysts. In 2023, McAfee licensed The Pat McAfee Show to ESPN, where it became part of the network’s weekday daytime lineup while continuing to operate through his independent media company. McAfee has also worked with WWE as a commentator and performer and produces ESPN alternate presentations, including NFL Draft and college football programming. His media company retains ownership and creative control over his show and intellectual property.