NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Pat McAfee expressed his satisfaction with ESPN and the WWE striking a historic deal to broadcast premium live events.
However, McAfee didn’t hesitate to call out certain individuals within his own company during the process.
McAfee took to X to congratulate ESPN and WWE on finalizing a deal, which was officially announced on Wednesday.
Pat McAfee makes an appearance during WWE Fastlane Oct. 7, 2023, at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Imagn)
“Great to see 2 powerhouses of sports and entertainment come together,” McAfee wrote before taking a dig.
“I assume all the mid-level, powerless, bum suits at ESPN will try to tarnish this somehow (out of context leaks/ignorant anonymous opinions/etc.) but, in the end.. this agreement will outlast the dinosaurs currently guarding desks in Bristol and this deal will be beneficial for ESPN.
“Cheers to the future.”
McAfee has had previous disagreements with ESPN executives, which may have prompted his criticism. He had accused Norby Williamson on air, claiming the longtime executive attempted to “sabotage” his show in 2024. Williamson eventually moved on to FanDuel Sports Network after a 40-year tenure at the “Worldwide Leader in Sports.”
The WWE-ESPN deal is reported to be valued at $1.6 billion over five years.
Pat McAfee during Wrestlemania at SoFi Stadium. (Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)
This will enable ESPN to broadcast some of the most anticipated WWE events annually, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and the Royal Rumble, as part of the wrestling giant’s direct-to-consumer service set to launch in late August.
McAfee, a devoted wrestling enthusiast, had previously served as a commentator for the WWE. However, he stepped away earlier this year due to a hectic schedule.
Despite joining ESPN on a five-year, $85 million deal, McAfee remains vocal and unafraid to voice his opinions.
“I don’t have a boss,” he had stated in the past.
ESPN recently made another significant deal in the sports world.
Pat McAfee sits on the ESPN “College Gameday” set before a game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., Nov. 2, 2024. (Imagn)
The network announced Tuesday that it had acquired the NFL Network in a deal that granted the league a 10% equity stake in ESPN.
The agreement includes the NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, NFL Fantasy, and more.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
