Pat McAfee's Monday Night Football alternate broadcast draws low ratings

Pat McAfee’s regular-season debut of the ‘Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show’ alternate broadcast for Monday Night Football saw lower-than-expected viewership. The broadcast, which aired on ESPN2 during the San Francisco 49ers’ 23-17 victory over the Washington Commanders, averaged approximately 351,000 viewers.

This audience size was notably smaller than the ManningCast format featuring Peyton and Eli Manning. Additionally, the broadcast was outperformed by the NFL Network’s analytics-focused alternate presentation of the same game. The debut has prompted discussions regarding ESPN’s significant investment in McAfee and the viability of multiple alternate NFL viewing options.