ESPN Considering Adding Pat McAfee To Super Bowl 61 Broadcasts

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ESPN Considering Adding Pat McAfee To Super Bowl 61 Broadcasts

Super Bowl LXI will mark the first time in 20 years that ABC will have the Super Bowl and the first time in history that ESPN will be simulcasting the big game. With the ball now on their side of the field, ESPN is planning on pulling out all the stops to make their broadcast memorable. That may include featuring Pat McAfee very prominently.

According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, the ESPN/Disney executives are mulling a Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show as an alternate broadcast of the Super Bowl. It's been a recurring broadcast done during the College Football Playoff and pulled in historic ratings during the recent Rose Bowl game between Alabama and Indiana.

McAfee himself is already tweeting how excited he is for the possibility, even if the discussions are still early in development.

"BREAKING: Source(s) tell me that the rights hurdle is very hurdle-able Would be absolutely bonkers #FOOTBALL," he wrote in response to the news. "This has blown up a bit, that’s sweet.. this was first reported by the very fine and fair folks from @FOS On that note.. I, representative for myself and The Progrum, have officially added details about the Super Bowl Field Pass report. “Hurdle-able” Thank you all for following along."

Fans of McAfee applauded the potential of such a move, highlighting how he's improved the way they've enjoyed the game through his simulcasts in recent years:

"Pat, the field pass coverage in the college playoffs did change how I want watch college football, please do the nfl playoffs, or maybe one game per week, best of luck, you've made me a fan," one user wrote on X.

"I watched far more college games this year simply due to the McAfee field pass. makes the games watchable and engaging," wrote another.

"It would be the only telecast I’ll watch if it’s available…" a third declared.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 08: Analyst Pat McAfee reacts in the first half between the Washington Huskies and Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

More than McAfee

McAfee is hardly the only option that ESPN/Disney have in their arsenal though. Front Office Sports further reported that Disney could be integrating some kind of kid-friendly option that may utilize some of their world-renown IPs to make the game more fun. It would reportedly be similar to CBS' SpongeBob Squarepants broadcast of playoff games.

With an entire year to prepare, ESPN has a chance to use all of the tools at their disposal to make a truly unforgettable Super Bowl experience.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Feb 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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