Pat McAfee has always been the one to tackle trending hot topics and built his brand by pushing the envelope. Now, it seems that approach is, slowly but surely, opening the door for more non-sports discussions in ESPN. And that bold approach might even land him in legal trouble. The Pat McAfee Show, while talking about the Combine drills, went off-topic, which raised the question: has the “pro-grum” finally gone too far?
The controversy began when Pat McAfee and former NFL star Antonio Brown made cryptic references to an ongoing internet-fueled rumor during an ESPN broadcast. Although they didn’t name any individuals directly, their comments were pointed enough to cause a reaction. And not just from the internet. Soon after, allegations surfaced that McAfee had played a role in amplifying baseless claims about an 18-year-old University of Mississippi student. The discussion, whether intended or not, ignited social media. What was once confined to corners of the internet was suddenly given a platform on ESPN airwaves. You’ve probably heard all about the Ole Miss stuff by now, right? And now, the fallout is here.
Mary Kate Cornett, the Ole Miss student at the center of the firestorm, didn’t stay silent. In a statement shared by her father, Justin Cornett, on Facebook, she denounced what she called a “deliberate and coordinated cyberattack spreading categorically false and defamatory information.” Cornett further accused McAfee, Brown and Barstool for pushing what she described as “utter and complete lies” about her personal life, leading her to take the matter to authorities. Now Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy as well as ESPN declined to comment on this.
But latest reports indicate that Cornett has already filed complaints with campus police at the University of Mississippi, as well as law enforcement in Oxford, Mississippi. More notably, she has also taken the case to the FBI, escalating the situation far beyond a simple defamation claim. And the family has also started a GoFundMe so people can donate.
JUST IN: Mary Kate Cornett has released a statement about the recent allegations, calling out Antonio Brown, Barstool, and Pat McAfee for spreading lies.
The family has reached out to the FBI to further investigate.
The family has also started a GoFundMe so people can donate. pic.twitter.com/B18GVlSAox
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 27, 2025
While McAfee is no stranger to stirring the pot, ESPN now finds itself in a precarious position. The network, which once prided itself on a strictly sports-first approach, has increasingly blurred the line between entertainment and news, thanks in large part to personalities like McAfee.
His show, which ESPN brought on in a high-profile move to inject some unpredictability into its programming, has indeed done just that. But at what cost? With McAfee facing potential legal action and ESPN being dragged into a national controversy, it’s fair to ask whether the network is now paying the price for giving him such a long leash.
All of this comes amid swirling speculation about another high-profile figure tied to McAfee’s orbit—Aaron Rodgers. The New York Jets quarterback, a recurring guest on The Pat McAfee Show, has been a lightning rod for controversy himself, particularly in recent years. McAfee’s platform has given Rodgers a space to sound off on everything from COVID conspiracies to his football future. And now, the rumor mill is turning again.
On Wednesday, McAfee suggested that the Los Angeles Rams might be the team Rodgers has his eye on next. “Aaron, from our sources, currently out of [the] country, when [he] gets back, will join the program,” McAfee teased. “I did ask about [the] Rams situation to our sources. Open to everything, attached to nothing. Big fan of Sean McVay, though.” While Rodgers’ future remains up in the air, one thing is certain—his next appearance on McAfee’s show will be must-watch television.
As this saga continues to unfold, the spotlight on McAfee has never been brighter. His rapid ascent in the sports media world has been fueled by his brash, no-holds-barred style, but this latest controversy serves as a stark reminder of the risks that come with it.
Did Pat McAfee take a detour from NFL Combine to some teen’s gossip?
The NFL Scouting Combine is supposed to be about football—evaluating talent, discussing draft stocks, and breaking down measurables. But somehow, the Ole Miss drama made its way into the conversation on The Pat McAfee Show, and man, it was uncomfortable.
By now, you’ve probably heard the wild rumors swirling around Ole Miss—but let’s be clear: it’s all hearsay at this point. Even so, social media ran with it, and it somehow became a discussion point at the Combine, of all places. ESPN’s Adam Schefter, whose literal job is to live on his phone, breaking the biggest NFL news in real time, was “blindsided” when the topic came up. Despite being one of the most plugged-in reporters in sports, even he hadn’t heard about the alleged drama at Ole Miss.
The conversation took a weird turn when a famous QB’s name came up, and suddenly, the crew took it as a cue to dive into the swirling controversy. The whole exchange couldn’t have been more awkward, with McAfee himself visibly uneasy. Struggling to even say it out loud, he vaguely referenced the shocking rumor involving a player’s family. Watching a table full of grown men dissect an 18-year-old’s private life on national television? It’s Bonkers.
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