Pat McAfee’s exclusive Veterans Day interview with Donald Trump has reignited a fierce debate over who truly holds the power at ESPN. The appearance became a lightning rod for long-simmering tensions surrounding politics, media oversight, and the network’s evolving identity. Veteran broadcaster Sage Steele captured the moment bluntly: McAfee now commands a level of independence so sweeping that even ESPN’s top executives struggle to rein him in.
The episode has pulled back the curtain on ESPN’s shifting strategy toward star-driven talent, revealing a network willing to give its biggest personalities unprecedented freedom as it navigates political scrutiny, public backlash, and rising competition from digital media giants.
Sage Steele Claims Pat McAfee Has No Rules At ESPN
Sage Steele, a longtime ESPN veteran, summed up the moment during a recent appearance on Jason Whitlock’s Fearless podcast. When asked whether she could have interviewed Donald Trump during her time at ESPN, Steele didn’t hesitate.
She said, “Can you imagine them telling [McAfee] no?… That’s not happening. It’s impossible… They could not tell him no. That man has no rules.”
She then doubled down, adding, “Pat McAfee doesn’t need ESPN. ESPN needs Pat McAfee… He will be there if he wants to be, but he can go and continue to grow his empire away from ESPN if they mess with him.”
The timing of McAfee’s Trump segment, aired during Veterans’ Day on Tuesday, only intensified the spotlight. It reignited questions about whether ESPN was quietly easing its long-standing “stick to sports” posture, especially for its biggest star.
Critics argued the Disney-owned network appeared to be applying different standards to McAfee than to other on-air personalities, signaling a shift in how ESPN manages political sensitivity and high-profile talent.
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For the unversed, McAfee himself dismissed the backlash, stating, “It’s the President of the United States. It’s Veterans Day. He’s the Commander-in-Chief. Obviously, if we have the opportunity to talk to him, we’re going to. And he is hilarious”.
He also defended the decision as apolitical, adding, “I interviewed Donald Trump… [but] I’m not partisan… I’m willing to speak to President Obama or Donald Trump, I don’t see an issue with that”.
Regardless of where the truth lies, McAfee is undeniably one of ESPN’s biggest names and is only two years into his five-year deal with the network. Steele, meanwhile, departed ESPN in August 2023 after settling a lawsuit with the company. The suit stemmed from her being taken off the air in October 2021 following comments she made about ESPN’s COVID-19 vaccine policy.
Donald Trump Goes Off On NFL’s Kickoff Rule During Pat McAfee Show Appearance
The NFL’s decision to make its new kickoff rule permanent has stirred mixed reactions among fans, analysts, and even political figures. After experimenting with the dynamic kickoff format last season, the league officially adopted it this year, marking a major departure from the traditional setup that has long been a defining element of football’s drama.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, President Donald Trump didn’t hold back his frustration with the change, labeling it “terrible” and “demeaning.” He argued that the rule weakens both the excitement and the pageantry of the sport. “I do have to say, and I’ll probably get myself in a little trouble, but I hate the kickoff,” Trump said.
He added, “I think it’s so terrible, I think it’s so demeaning. And I think it hurts the game, it hurts the pageantry. I tell that to Roger Goodell. And I don’t think it’s any safer. I mean, you still have guys crashing into each other. And it’s the opposite of what the game is.”
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The new kickoff rule restructures the formation by placing the kicking and receiving units much closer together, with neither side allowed to move until the returner fields the ball. The NFL introduced this setup with the goal of reducing high-speed collisions that have long made kickoffs one of the game’s most dangerous plays.
But despite the league’s safety-first explanation, Trump cast doubt on whether the change achieves its intended purpose. He argued that physical collisions still occur, questioning whether the rule truly makes the game any safer.
