In the nearly three years since he first entered a licensing agreement to lease his eponymous daily show to ESPN, Pat McAfee’s status as a golden child has been well documented.
But in case anyone needed a reminder, it came Wednesday night.
With the Knicks’ four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals leaving a void on ESPN’s schedule—and for its advertisers—the network found itself in need of a high-profile replacement. Rather than reaching into its portfolio of sports rights, the network turned to McAfee, who delivered an impromptu two-hour “Primetime State of Sports” special featuring nearly every major league commissioner, as well as an impressive guest list of analysts and athletes.
Adam Silver (NBA), Rob Manfred (MLB), Gary Bettman (NHL), Cathy Engelbert (WNBA), Don Garber (MLS), and Dana White (UFC) each agreed to interviews, as did NBA star Tyrese Haliburton, reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford, and a bevy of ESPN analysts, including Jeff Passan, Monica McNutt, and P.K. Subban.
Even Roger Goodell’s absence was filled by a joint interview featuring NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, the first appearance of the former rivals-turned-colleagues under the ESPN banner.
