Pat McAfee’s candid and direct approach to commentating has catapulted him to the top of the sports media world over a very short period of time.
Several notable former athletes have entered the podcasting world (JJ Reddick and Stephen Jackson come to mind) but few have had the success that McAfee and his team have achieved. The former Indianapolis Colts punter left the NFL to build a media company that has grown now into a multi-million dollar empire. After years of success, the 36-year-old McAfee signed an agreement to work with ESPN, which only inflated his brand and following.
During a recent episode of the Bussin With the Boys podcast, Stephen A. Smith touched on McAfee’s success and his relationship with his ESPN colleague.
“I love Pat McAfee, love him to death. I love his swag; I love the fact that he’s an honest brother,” said Smith.
Stephen A. Smith then goes on to speak about his experience breaking into the industry and how his broadcasting style differs from McAfee.
“Is he as polished politically as me? Nope, because he has no desire to be number one,” Smith said. “And number two, if we’re being honest, he’s white, and I’m Black; he doesn’t have to be. I had to be.”
"If we're being honest, he's white and I'm Black, he doesn't have to be. I had to be. So I get all that, and I'm not knocking him for it." ⤵️https://t.co/IW1i7T2dxi
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 21, 2024
McAfee and Smith may be colleagues, but the two work in very different worlds. While McAfee is ahead of the game in the digital world, Smith is still one of the top analysts in what he refers to as “linear television.”
“Digital is different because I am a baby,” said Smith.
While there is a healthy rivalry between the two, Smith admits that he never roots against any of his fellow broadcasters.
“Pat McAfee is a sensational talent, and it would be stupid of me not to root for him because he’s one of the pioneers in this business,” said Smith.
