‘Surprised ESPN Doesn’t Freak Out,’ ‘They Got Rid of Ryan Clark for This?’ — NFL Fans React As Pat McAfee Appears To Smoke Mid-Show

Abhilasha Aditi Fri, September 18, 2026 at 6:07 AM UTC

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An analyst on ESPN's College GameDay and the host of The Pat McAfee Show.

Pat McAfee has built his sports show around a style that rarely resembles a traditional television broadcast. This approach came back into focus after a clip from his ESPN program circulated online, prompting viewers to debate what appeared to be happening during the live show.

The moment soon became another discussion about how much freedom McAfee has compared with other ESPN personalities.

NFL Fans React to Pat McAfee’s Viral Clip

The viral footage appeared to show McAfee smoking during “The Pat McAfee Show”, prompting immediate reactions from NFL fans.

McAfee later addressed the speculation on his show, joking, “Little sage hurts nobody. Also, this Buffalo Bills team came out on fire in their new home. Just smoking the Lions in all phases. Josh Allen’s numbers this year might be Biblical. Is this the year Buffalo wins the whole damn thing?”

The show’s X account also shared the comment as the clip continued circulating online. Meanwhile, viewers’ response soon turned toward ESPN’s treatment of McAfee.

One fan compared his situation with former ESPN analyst Ryan Clark, writing on X, “So they got rid of Ryan Clark for this?”

Another viewer focused on McAfee’s unusual relationship with the network rather than the clip itself. The fan said, “He does whatever he wants on that station. It’s very real”

McAfee’s show operates through a licensing arrangement with ESPN rather than the conventional talent structure used for many network personalities. This gives his production company considerable control over the program’s format and presentation, helping explain why his broadcasts often feature language and behavior outside traditional sports television norms.

This distinction led another fan to express surprise at the network’s response. The fan wrote, “I don’t care, I’m just surprised ESPN doesn’t freak out.”

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Others argued that McAfee’s unconventional style is precisely what ESPN signed up for. One fan added, “That’s what ESPN paid for 🤷‍♂️”

The broader discussion also brought up McAfee’s history before his ESPN move. A longtime viewer suggested the behavior was hardly new, saying, “Happens more frequently than you think.”

Another fan compared McAfee’s situation with Paul Pierce, who was fired by ESPN in 2021 after an Instagram Live video showed him smoking, drinking, and surrounded by exotic dancers. The fan wrote, “Paul Pierce got fired for smoking and having strippers on his day off.”

This comparison generated another hypothetical reaction involving Stephen A. Smith. One fan joked, “If I was Stephen A. Smith, I’d show up to work with the biggest blunt I can find and dare somebody to say something.”

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The Ryan Clark comparison returned as the conversation continued, with another fan asking, “But fired Ryan ???” The reaction clearly shows the broader frustration among some viewers about how ESPN handles different personalities.

Finally, a viewer dismissed the viral moment as nothing new from McAfee. The fan said, “He’s literally been doing this for years.”

McAfee remains one of ESPN’s most prominent personalities under his current agreement, which runs through 2028. He is also part of a broader role that includes College GameDay, Monday Night Countdown, and ESPN’s upcoming Super Bowl coverage.

With McAfee’s program built around creative independence, the latest clip became less about one moment and more about the different standards fans believe ESPN applies to its personalities.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”