Pat McAfee had what can be considered a successful NFL career as a punter.
He spent eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and made two Pro Bowls in that span.
Yet he retired young, thus leaving future NFL salary on the table.
The move now looks like a genius one given all the work McAfee does in media.
His most lucrative project is the Pat McAfee Show, which airs over satellite radio and a YouTube stream.
McAfee can speak his mind freely and always features top guests, with Aaron Rodgers having a weekly appearance.
It is easy to wonder how much he makes for doing the show.
FanDuel has decided to change the entire conversation about McAfee’s income with a monumental deal.
BREAKING: @PatMcAfeeShow has agreed to a MASSIVE four-year exclusive extension with FanDuel.
The deal is for roughly $30 million annually, or $120 million in total, per @ShamsCharania.
The business that Pat & the boys have built is incredible.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 9, 2021
McAfee is set to earn $120 million over four years to have FanDuel as the exclusive sports betting partner of the show.
Just the first year of $30 million alone doubles his career NFL earnings.
A Punter That Launched A Media Empire
McAfee clearly made the right move to get out of the NFL and into media.
But the best part of all has to be him already deciding to give back so much of the money to noble causes.
Pat McAfee starting his own show & signing a ~$30M annual deal with FanDuel is wild.
But the fact that he donated $6M of it on Day 1 to youth programs, children's hospitals, domestic violence shelters & other charities makes it that much more amazing.
Congrats @PatMcAfeeShow!
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 9, 2021
It is hard not to like McAfee, who also has a presence in WWE as an announcer in addition to his now lucrative show.
The former Colts punter is also just 34 years old.
He has decades to continue building his brand and this deal may only be the beginning of monumental money to come his way.
If FanDuel is paying him this much now while both sides are still growing, the next deal may rival what a top NFL quarterback would get in free agency.
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