Pat McAfee's New Salary Is Higher Than Basically Every NFL Player
Pat McAfee is set to get paid in a big, big way.
The former NFL punter turned sports media personality is negotiating a contract extension with ESPN. According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, the extension is going to be a big one. McAfee is reportedly set to make more than $50 million per year as part of his new deal, which has yet to be finalized.
"ESPN and representatives for Pat McAfee are discussing an extension to his contract that would pay him more than $60 million per year, sources briefed on the talks told The Athletic," Marchand reported.
"The deal is not yet completed, and if an agreement can be reached, it could be a sliding scale based on McAfee's new responsibilities. McAfee, already omnipresent, could be on the air even more, with a bigger role in NFL coverage a possibility, according to the sources. The two sides are currently between $60 to 65 million per year, according to the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing negotiations."
If the deal goes through, McAfee will be the highest-paid employee in the history of ESPN. In fact, only two current NFL players will be making more than McAfee in 2026.
There are just two players - two star quarterbacks, unsurprisingly - that will be making at least $60 million or more.
Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow will make more than McAfee - but that's it
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback and the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback each make north of $60 million per year.
Prescott signed an extension in September of 2024 that will pay him $61.6 million in average annual value. Burrow, meanwhile, signed an extension that will pay him $61.3 million in average annual value.
No other NFL player makes at least $60 million or more.
McAfee probably didn't think that he'd be making a lot more money in media than he did as an NFL punter, but life is good for him these days.
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM.