Pat McAfee had some friction at the NFL combine in the very same city his ESPN show is hosted every day.
While responding to a Front Office Sports report that McAfee will not attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay due to “insufficient respect,” McAfee explained his high levels of frustration with NFL event organizers.
The main issue in Indianapolis for the former Colts punter appeared to do with the location of the set, however it did not stop him from pulling in a solid list of NFL guests throughout the week.
“Someone at that middle level who has power wanted to flex the fact that they have power, I think. Created some problems, obviously,” McAfee said before mimicking the managers. “‘I’m going to have to sign off on this. You can’t do this; you can’t do that. This is what I’m saying yada yada.’ All bulls–t. You know.
“Hoops were made for us to jump through for no reason because I think I’m younger than these people. So they think they can, you know. I don’t think they get it. Draft was [going] to be the same thing. Where they were going to put us, allegedly. How it was going to go, what we’re going to have to do. Flexing power while also showing disdain for me and my show and my guys all at the same time. While we have a relationship with the actual league, I think.
“With that being said, I don’t want to play their games.”
McAfee, 37, closed by saying that he would not be going to the NFL Draft in Wisconsins due to a “lack of respect” – rather than insufficient respect.
However, then McAfee responded “ABSOLUTELY” to a fan who asked if he was “still going to be live for the draft.”
While rocky at times, his ESPN relationship has increased his ability to get guests and stronger access to the league.
Although not this time, it appears.