The Athletic reported that their sources stated that ESPN and WWE personality and former commentator Pat McAfee are currently in negotiations for a potential new contract.
It was reported that McAfee’s new potential deal would be in the range of $60-65 million per year.
It was also reported that McAfee’s contract negotiations with ESPN are being handled by TKO CEO Ari Emanuel and COO and President Mark Shapiro. Emanuel and Shapiro’s negotiations for McAfee reportedly started at $100 million per year for the talks.
It was also reported that McAfee is currently being paid close to $30 million per year with some of that money being used to pay the contributors to the Pat McAfee Show.
McAfee’s current deal reportedly has two years remaining and a new deal could see him appear on ESPN more often than he already does.
McAfee last appeared in WWE at this past April’s WrestleMania 42 Night 1 event in Las Vegas for the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. This match featured the stipulation of McAfee saying he would leave pro wrestling if Orton lost and followed through with it after Orton’s loss claiming that he had finished his story in wrestling.

AEW: Andrade El Idolo on Origin of Taking His Pants Off Routine During Matches, Will Ospreay on Him Being Proud Of “Daring To Try Something New” With Clockwork Carnage at WrestleDream 2026, Nick Jackson on “I Would Do Anything For Tony Khan At This Point, I Don’t Think He Gets Enough Praise And Credit”
Skadi Wins 2026 CMLL Women’s International Grand Prix
Davis & Doyle vs. The Young Bucks in AEW World Tag Titles Eliminator and Maya World vs. Queen Aminata in TBS Title #1 Contender Matches Set for 10/21 AEW Dynamite Show




