Pat McAfee really wanted a job in the announcing booth with ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.”
Alas, he didn’t get it. “MNF” went in another direction, as they say.
McAfee responded to the decision on Wednesday calling out “yuppies” in a statement on Twitter, “My entire life, the yuppies of the world haven’t really understood or liked me…
“I very much knew that when I launched the #McAfeeForMNF campaign I was putting myself out there for possible devastating disappointment,” he continued.
But although it didn’t work, he wrote that he is staying positive.
“I think something rather large is around the corner, just excited 2 see where it comes from. You all are the absolute best. Thanks 4 riding this wave of life with me. We’re in this together.”
OFFICIAL #McAfeeForMNF statement after today’s decision by @ESPN: pic.twitter.com/qxFWpp8iRq
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 1, 2019
“MNF” announced that they are moving to a more traditional broadcast booth set-up with Joe Tessitore doing play-by-play, as he did last year, and Booger McFarland moving up to the booth after being a field-level analyst. Lisa Salters will be the sidelines reporter.
Jason Witten ended his one-year run as a commentator in the “MNF” booth, after fumbling through much of it, to return to the Dallas Cowboys.
McAfee, a Plum and West Virginia graduate and former All-Pro punter for the Indianapolis Colts, had started a social media campaign to replace Witten and become the next analyst for “MNF.”
In February, he posted to Twitter, “Hello @ESPNNFL, I’m pretty wide open next fall. Something to think about. Sincerely, Pat.”
Then this week the hashtag #McAfeeForMNF was among the top trending topics on Twitter. His campaign was backed by current NFL stars like Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.
McAfee punted for the Colts from 2009-2016, getting named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2016, before retiring.
Since his retirement, he has worked for Barstool Sports, co-hosted events for World Wrestling Entertainment and debuted as a football analyst last fall, joining FOX Sports for its broadcasts of the Baylor-Texas Tech game and the Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game in the NFL’s Week 17.
Here’s McAfee’s full statement:
“My entire life, the yuppies of the world haven’t really understood or liked me… that’s completely fine, because my mom had me disliking those folks since I was a kid as well… I very much knew that when I launched the #McAfeeForMNF campaign I was putting myself out there for possible devastating disappointment.
“You have to remember that when I was deciding to retire from the @NFL after making another Pro Bowl, I was told by every network that they had ZERO interest in hiring me, @stoolpresidente was literally the only “exec” who saw anything in me..
“So when we made this campaign for the job trend for 10 hours on a random Monday a month ago, I thought there was an actual chance of shaking up the bureaucratic (B.S.) that seems to happen often at these networks.. i got my hopes up to be honest.. and ultimately, I wasn’t green lighted for the gig.
“Just like all of the faux life coaches on this platform say tho, this decision will make for a much better story in the end. I will forever be grateful for you beautiful humans of the internet for having my back.
“The “internet guy” “stigma” that networks have labeled me with is one that I’m very proud of.. because everything on the internet is earned, not given. I’ve dedicated a lot of time in my life to this internet world and I wouldn’t change it for a thing.
“@espn made their #MNF broadcasting announcement today, I wasn’t a part of it, but I refuse to give up all hope in the decision makers at the TV networks.
“I think something rather large is around the corner, just excited 2 see where it comes from. You all are the absolute best. Thanks 4 riding this wave of life with me. We’re in this together. Cheers.”
