Former ESPN broadcaster Sage Steele believes Pat McAfee’s viral Veterans Day interview with former President Donald Trump proves that the popular host operates with unusual freedom at the network.
Steele shared her thoughts on Jason Whitlock’s “Fearless” podcast on Wednesday, where she discussed why McAfee appears to face “no rules” at ESPN — even after repeatedly pushing boundaries on-air.
‘No consequences’ for McAfee, Steele says
When Whitlock asked if McAfee’s Trump interview would have been “harder or maybe impossible” if he were based at ESPN’s Bristol, Connecticut headquarters, Steele didn’t hesitate.
“This is Pat McAfee,” she said. “He dropped the name Norby Williamson and called him a rat — twice — on ESPN, and nothing happened.”
McAfee’s comments came during a January 2024 episode of The Pat McAfee Show, where he accused Williamson, then a senior ESPN executive, of attempting to “sabotage” his program. Williamson left the company months later.
Steele noted that even after the controversy, McAfee took a selfie on the field with Burke Magnus, Williamson’s successor, with zero repercussions.
“For him to call out an executive by name, criticize him, and face no punishment tells you exactly how much control he has,” Steele said. “Imagine trying to tell him ‘no.’ It’s not happening — and Pat knows it.”
Executives couldn’t stop the Trump interview, Steele claims
According to Steele, McAfee’s Veterans Day interview with Trump likely triggered behind-the-scenes panic — but ESPN executives lacked the authority to intervene.
“That man has no rules,” she said. “I can picture the executives melting down as it happened. But they couldn’t tell him no.”
McAfee’s show, though aired on ESPN platforms, is independently produced and licensed — a structure that gives him far more flexibility than most ESPN talent.
Steele: Disney talks another example of McAfee’s freedom
Steele added that McAfee openly discussing Disney’s negotiations with YouTube TV is yet another illustration of his unusual latitude.
“It’s clear he talks about what he wants, when he wants,” she said.
Steele left ESPN after legal dispute
Steele departed ESPN in August 2023 following a settlement with the network. She had been removed from the air in 2021 after criticizing ESPN’s COVID-19 vaccine policy, later filing suit over her treatment.
Since leaving, she has spoken openly about what she sees as inconsistencies in ESPN’s internal culture — and McAfee’s status, she said, reinforces that point.
McAfee, a former NFL punter turned media star, continues to be one of ESPN’s biggest personalities as a host of College GameDay and his daily sports talk show.
