Former ESPN personality Dan Le Batard offered Pat McAfee some advice on his decision to move his show to the sports media giant this fall.
Le Batard, who left ESPN in 2021 to create Meadowlark Media, congratulated McAfee in a tweet while also reminding him to remain his authentic self.
“Giant heartfelt congratulations to @PatMcAfeeShow. Don’t let anyone change you, Pat. Or how you dress. Or how you curse. Or how you succeed. Or how you do you. Or how you do your show. Youve done the hardest thing, your way. You’ve built a beast. Don’t let anyone tame it. —,” Le Batard tweeted.
Although The Pat McAfee Show will have a new platform, McAfee confirmed there will not be major changes to the program. In October, Le Batard told SI’s Jimmy Traina that his decision to leave ESPN was because of “things shrinking” at the network and that he was “confined” in ways that he was not comfortable with.
Giant heartfelt congratulations to @PatMcAfeeShow. Don’t let anyone change you, Pat. Or how you dress. Or how you curse. Or how you succeed. Or how you do you. Or how you do your show. Youve done the hardest thing, your way. You’ve built a beast. Don’t let anyone tame it. — https://t.co/dweJk7oOCA
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) May 16, 2023
“There wasn’t enough freedom there,” Le Batard said.
Andrew Marchand of The New York Post reported that McAfee’s deal with ESPN would be worth “more than eight figures.” Prior to Tuesday’s announcement, the former West Virginia University and Colts punter held a four-year, $120 million deal with FanDuel.
Marchand also reported that “some form” of McAfee’s show is expected to remain on YouTube. McAfee’s show has been in existence since he retired from the NFL in 2017.
McAfee previously worked with Barstool Sports before starting his own company and landing other lucrative deals.
