Stephen A. Smith Offers Candid Opinion of ESPN Colleague Pat McAfee’s Broadcast Style

The veteran broadcaster discussed how race has allowed McAfee to be ‘less polished.’

Even at the highest echelons of sports television—where being “divisive” is often a good career move, and being labelled as such a compliment—ESPN analyst Pat McAfee stands out.

Appearing on College GameDay regularly this past season, McAfee drew decidedly mixed reviews for his loose, informal approach. Later, the airtime he ceded to New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s conspiracy theories even presented some legal concerns for ESPN.

On Tuesday, one of McAfee’s coworkers—commentator Stephen A. Smith, perhaps ESPN’s most marketable personality—discussed the former West Virginia kicker and Indianapolis Colts punter’s style.

“I love Pat McAfee, love him to death. I love his swag; I love the fact that he’s an honest brother. He don’t give a s---… That’s my kind of dude,” Smith told former NFL linebacker Will Compton and tackle Taylor Lewan Tuesday on the two former players’ podcast, Bussin’ with the Boys.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has been complimentary of his colleague Pat McAfee :: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

However, Smith opined that McAfee had something working in his favor as he navigated the TV ranks: his race.

“Is he as polished politically as me? Nope, because he has no desire to be number one,” Smith said. “And number two, if we’re being honest, he’s white, and I’m Black; he doesn’t have to be. I had to be. So I get all that, and I’m not knocking him for it.”

With legendary college football coach Nick Saban set to join College GameDay in the fall, McAfee’s role in the show’s new dynamic will be a storyline to watch going forward.