Pat McAfee is set for an even bigger role at ESPN heading into the 2026 NFL season. The former WWE commentator and in-ring performer has been named a new analyst on Monday Night Countdown.
Despite the show’s direct tie to Monday Night Football, McAfee won’t be joining the broadcast booth for games. His new position is on the pregame show, which airs Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. ET.
McAfee will join a desk that includes Scott Van Pelt, Jason Kelce, Marcus Spears, and Jason McCourty. Adam Schefter will continue handling breaking NFL news, with Kurt Warner making special appearances throughout the season.
McAfee’s Monday Night Countdown debut is set for September 14, live from Arrowhead Stadium ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos matchup.
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12:59 PM · Aug 19, 2026The new gig won’t affect McAfee’s other ESPN duties. He’ll continue hosting The Pat McAfee Show daily and serving as an analyst on College GameDay every Saturday. On Mondays, his show will originate from whatever city is hosting that week’s Monday Night Football game, further expanding his NFL coverage footprint.
The timing also lines up with a landmark season for ESPN. The network will carry Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium, and McAfee is expected to play a prominent role in the event’s coverage.
On the pro wrestling side, McAfee’s last major WWE appearance came at WrestleMania 42, where he aligned with Randy Orton in their feud with Cody Rhodes. Following Orton’s loss, McAfee wrapped up his active run with the company.