ESPN’s Pat McAfee on the verge of a historic pay raise, reports say
It is expected McAfee will have more of a role in ESPN's involvement with NFL Network.
Olivia Bennett 
If you have been hoping for even more Pat McAfee on your screen, you are in luck. Reports indicate that the sports media star is nearing a massive contract extension with ESPN.
A Historic Payday
According to The Athletic, McAfee and the network are deep into negotiations that could see the former NFL punter earn upwards of $60 million annually. Andrew Marchand reports that both sides are close, with a potential deal sitting in the $60 million to $65 million range. Should the agreement be finalized, it would cement McAfee as one of the highest-paid talents in the entire ESPN stable, placing his earning power on par with industry giant Stephen A. Smith.
Expanded Roles and NFL Network Integration
This lucrative new deal is expected to broaden McAfee’s footprint across ESPN’s portfolio. Most notably, McAfee is set to take on a larger role within the NFL Network following ESPN's acquisition of the league-owned property. His influence in the football space is already evident, as he has helped break several major NFL news stories.
Despite his growing responsibilities elsewhere, fans can still expect the outspoken personality to remain a fixture on College GameDay. In that role, he will continue working alongside veteran analyst Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
In addition to his podcast and his collegiate football duties, the deal is expected to cover his continued, though intermittent, involvement with WWE. As 205focus.com continues to monitor this evolving story, it remains clear that McAfee’s influence at the network is only trending upward.
