ESPN’s Pat McAfee Admits to Paying Aaron Rodgers, Nick Saban for Weekly Interviews

ESPN’s Pat McAfee brought his hit television show over to the network as part of his five-year, $85 million contract that he signed earlier this year.

The Pat McAfee Show has become must-see TV, as the former NFL punter-turned-media mogul has landed recurring weekly interviews with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Alabama coach Nick Saban.

While it’s clear that Rodgers and Saban both have an immense amount of respect for McAfee, we now know why they appear on ESPN on a weekly basis.

They’re paid. Handsomely.

Rodgers is receiving “more than seven figures per year” for his weekly interviews, while Saban is also being paid in that neighborhood as well by McAfee, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post. 

When reached for comment, McAfee didn’t shy away from the arrangement. In fact, he confirmed it.

“Aaron has made over $1,000,000 with us, for sure,” McAfee told Marchand.

McAfee made it clear that guests like Rodgers made his show (and media company, for that matter), what it’s become. 

“Everybody who helped us get to this point has reaped the benefits of it. That’s how business is supposed to work,” McAfee told Marchand. “To be transparent, Aaron deserves much more than what he’s gotten for his time and effort he has put into ‘Aaron Rodgers Tuesdays.’”

McAfee’s spots for Rodgers and Saban will certainly continue, especially now that it’s general knowledge that the duo is getting paid for their weekly time on the show.