WWE announcer Pat McAfee will step away from the SmackDown commentary desk for an undetermined period of time while he pursues a new venture with sports network ESPN. On September 6, the New York Post reported that McAfee would be joining the broadcast team of ESPN's College GameDay program. McAfee will report for duty at the Alabama-Texas game on Saturday, September 10. "GameDay is a show that I’ve been a fan of FOREVER. So many moving parts including real cool conversations w/ the fine folks from WWE..all moved quickly," McAfee tweeted shortly after the New York Post broke the news.RELATED: All Of Pat McAfee's WWE Matches, Ranked Worst To BestThe following day (September 7) McAfee clarified a few details on The Pat McAfee Show and revealed that his SmackDown gig would be "on hold" while he fulfilled his ESPN obligations. McAfee's WWE boss Triple H later tweeted that Pat had received WWE's blessing.
Pat McAfee is a former NFL player who became SmackDown's new color commentator in April of last year following a brief but successful stint in NXT where he served as a broadcaster and an in-ring talent. He signed a multi-year extension to his WWE contract back in July.
Since arriving on the main roster, McAfee has staked a legitimate claim as the most engaging WWE color commentator since Bobby Heenan. Beyond his duties at the booth, McAfee also revived his part-time in-ring career when he defeated Austin Theory at WrestleMania 38 back in April ... although he had little time to celebrate as he lost to Vince McMahon immediately afterward.
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