Time has released its list of the most influential sports figures in 2026. This list includes Pat McAfee, a man who has become a major star in the world of broadcasting.
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McAfee landed on the Innovators list, which features people who have made impacts on their respective sports. For example, 23XI Racing co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin made the Innovators list for how they forever changed NASCAR with a lawsuit.
Time chose to highlight McAfee for how he transitioned from being a punter for the Indianapolis Colts to one of the biggest names in sportscasting. The outlet also highlighted how he successfully entered the world of WWE.
"In 2023, McAfee signed a five-year, $85 million deal with ESPN for the network to license his daily YouTube show," wrote correspondent Sean Gregory. "Its unfiltered style — and newsmaking discussions with controversial vaccine-skeptic Aaron Rodgers — gained traction among sports fans.
"McAfee has earned a seat at the College GameDay table: His kicking contests on the beloved ESPN football pregame program, in which students try to convert a 33-yard field goal on campus for cash prizes, regularly go viral; McAfee has awarded more than $5 million in cash and charitable contributions over the past two seasons."
McAfee entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He landed with the Indianapolis Colts and kicked off a career in which he served as a special teams threat.
He played for eight years and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl. He also earned one First-Team All-Pro selection in 2014.
McAfee retired after the 2016 season and transitioned into what has become the most successful portion of his career. He first spent two seasons with Barstool Sports but ultimately split with the company in 2018. He launched his own company and began hosting his daily show.
McAfee has only grown his passion project into one of the most-watched sports programs. The deal with ESPN only further expanded his reach. Meanwhile, he began contributing to college football coverage in multiple ways.
