Sometimes, the best career move is the one you never saw coming. Pat McAfee, former NFL punter turned sports media personality, is living proof of that.
Pat McAfee net worth has been a topic of fascination for fans and industry insiders alike. How does a retired punter make as much, if not more, as active pro players? Let’s find out!
How Much Is Pat McAfee’s Net Worth?
Pat McAfee has scored a touchdown in the game of life. As of 2024, the former NFL punter sits comfortably on a $60 million fortune!
Born May 2, 1987, Pat was a natural in sports. He played varsity football, soccer, and volleyball in high school and became a sophomore national champion of Punt, Pass, and Kick.
During his senior year, Pat flew to Miami using his winnings from illegal poker to enter a national field goal contest. He drilled nine straight field goals until almost nailing a 70-yarder, catching the eye of West Virginia’s recruiter.
NFL Career
Pat McAfee spent eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2016. During this time, he earned about $15 million in salary and bonuses.
His most lucrative NFL contract came in 2014—a 5-year, $14 million deal with $5 million guaranteed. With two years left on his contract, he retired from pro football and gave up $6 million of his salary. He was only 29 and in his prime.
Now, $15 million over eight years might not sound like much compared to quarterbacks or wide receivers, but that’s hitting the jackpot for a punter.
NFL Retirement
So, why did Pat McAfee quit the NFL? Two reasons.
One, a worn knee after making 575 punts over eight seasons (and thousands more during practice). After a few surgeries (and more on the horizon if he kept playing), Pat realized it was time to hang his cleats.
Two, Barstool Sports came with an offer he couldn’t refuse—produce content for sports fans. It was a tough decision, but Pat saw this new venture as a chance to flex his creative muscles.
Some people might have thought he was crazy for leaving the NFL, but he had his eyes on the long game.
Retirement had been on McAfee’s mind for a while, and the Barstool opportunity just came at the right time.
The Pat McAfee Show
After leaving the NFL for good, Pat McAfee helped create the Barstool Heartland, the company’s multimedia headquarters in Indianapolis, where he was the COO.
During this time, Pat also began training to become a pro wrestler. Then, he launched “The Pat McAfee Show” on Sirius XM.
The three-hour podcast hit the ground running. It was already on top of the iTunes charts before its official release.
Differences led the collaboration to fall apart in 2018. Pat left Barstool and set up Pat McAfee Inc. (PMI) in his old office. PMI got involved with merchandise sales. But the real moneymaker? You guessed it—podcasts!
PMI produced four shows, namely:
- The Pat McAfee Show 2.0
- Heartland Radio 2.0
- That’s Hockey Talk
- Good Bettor Bets
Pat’s main show consisted mainly of reruns from his daily talk show on Sirius. In 2019, Pat launched a refreshed “The Pat McAfee Show,” syndicated by Westwood One and DAZN and later by CBS Sports Radio.
FanDuel became the show’s exclusive sportsbook in 2021, following a 4-year, $120 million deal. Eighteen months later, Pat ditched FanDuel to join ESPN. The new contract was $85 million over five years, or $17 million annually.
But isn’t that a pay cut? I hear you ask. Yes, technically. For Pat McAfee, it’s all about the long game. After all, ESPN is still the world’s largest sports platform.
Right on cue, ESPN distributed “The Pat McAfee Show” to its platforms, including ESPN+, YouTube, and TV channels.
Wrestling Career
Pat McAfee started as a pre-show analyst for NXT TakeOver events and quickly became a regular.
By early 2019, he had signed a multi-year deal with WWE. He began hosting live watch-alongs of WWE pay-per-views on YouTube, starting with Fastlane.
Later, he moved to SmackDown as a color commentator alongside Michael Cole. As a participant, Pat has had eight matches in total, with a 4-4 record.
Gamers can now download Pat McAfee as a playable character in WWE 2K24. You can watch him on Raw as part of a new commentary team with Michael Cole.
Real Estate
Pat McAfee owns a 12-acre property in Indianapolis that he bought for $925,000 in 2015. The property includes a 10,600-square-foot mansion, pool, and barn.
Personal Life
Pat proposed to his girlfriend, Samantha Ludy, in February 2019, and they tied the knot in August 2020. In 2023, they welcomed their daughter, Mackenzie.
Wrapping Up
If there’s one thing we can learn from Pat McAfee, it’s that your first career doesn’t have to be your only career.
With a net worth of $60 million, the ex-pro player proves that life after football can be lucrative.
If you ever meet someone dismissing punters as lesser football players, you should mention Pat McAfee’s achievements. That’ll kick that argument right through the uprights.