After leaving FanDuel Sportsbook, American sports analyst Pat McAfee has had an interesting first few months at ESPN, to say the least. His outspoken personality has raised eyebrows and many have questioned his fit with ESPN, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company.
McAfee turned down a more lucrative contract offer to stay with FanDuel and instead decided to sign a five-year, $85 million deal with ESPN. While many have wondered why he left so much money on the table, reports have surfaced that give fans a better idea of his thought process.
Last year, FanDuel had an advertising campaign during the Super Bowl known as “The Kick of Destiny,” where former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski would kick a 25-yard field and if he made it, anyone who wagered $5 on the Super Bowl via FanDuel Sportsbook would be given a share of $10 million in free bets.
According to a report from The Washington Post, McAfee was “upset” that the company elected to use Gronkowski instead of him. Like Gronkowski, McAfee is also a former NFL player, except he was a punter. Kicking footballs is something he’s done his whole life and he wanted the opportunity to do it on a national stage.
While McAfee has a point that logically, it made sense for him to be the one to attempt the field goal as a former NFL punter, Gronkowski is more of a household name. He is regarded as arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history and one of the most famous and personable players the league has seen.
