ESPN has been the home of Monday Night Football since 2006, and its main broadcast remains a staple for NFL fans. However, the network has also expanded its lineup of alternate broadcasts, giving fans more ways to enjoy the game each week.
The most popular example is the “ManningCast,” which features Peyton and Eli Manning. Now, Pat McAfee has also joined the mix, bringing his signature high-energy, laid-back style to ESPN2 for his first NFL regular-season alternate broadcast.
The new addition, however, has sparked mixed reactions among fans.
Reviews Are In For Pat McAfee’s ‘Field Pass’ Debut
McAfee made his regular-season alternate broadcast debut on Oct. 19 during the Washington Commanders’ matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Aired on ESPN2, “Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show” featured McAfee alongside ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky and former NFL defensive back Darius Butler, with show regulars Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit and Tone Digs joining from a stadium suite.
The alternate broadcast is scheduled to air during select weeks when the “ManningCast” is off. ESPN has scheduled six regular-season episodes, concluding with a Week 18 edition during its Saturday doubleheader on Jan. 9, 2027. “Field Pass” is also set to return for Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027, on ESPNU.
Some viewers were quick to defend the new broadcast, pointing out that fans who prefer ESPN’s standard coverage can simply stick with it.
One fan wrote, “No issues. Nobody is forced to watch if they don’t want to watch,” in response to complaints about the new broadcast.
One viewer was impressed by McAfee’s play-by-play, saying that his energy helped make the broadcast feel like watching the game with friends.
The fan wrote, “Pat McAfee is lowkey kinda good at play-by-play. Obviously, [he’s] not Mike Tirico or Joe Buck, but he has the basic mechanics and excitement down. I’m enjoying ‘Field Pass.’ It feels like I’m watching with my friends.”
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A third fan took a shot at Joe Buck and Troy Aikman’s broadcast, suggesting it has lost some of its appeal amid speculation about their contract situations.
The fan remarked, “Nobody is watching their telecast when you can watch Pat McAfee and his crew on ESPN2.”
However, not everyone was sold on McAfee’s new alternate broadcast.
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One critic took issue with McAfee’s growing presence across ESPN’s football coverage, writing, “ESPN is slowly infiltrating ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ into every aspect of its airtime. No ‘ManningCast’ on ESPN2. The ‘Field Pass’ is on with that blow hard.”
Other viewers were even more blunt in their disapproval. One wrote, “I’d rather stick needles in my eyes.”
Another asked, “Can’t we just have one day a week without him?”
With “Field Pass” set to return for Super Bowl LXI and ESPN continuing to expand McAfee’s role in its NFL coverage, viewers may see more of him in the months ahead. Whether that’s good news or simply too much McAfee depends on which side of the debate you’re on.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.