FanDuel inks $120m mega-media-deal with Pat McAfee
US market leader locks down former NFL player’s podcast with bumper new partnership
FanDuel has signed a bumper $120m contract extension with sports media personality and former NFL star Pat McAfee.
Reports in the US claim the partnership is a four-year deal, which includes an opt-out after three, at a record $30m per year, one of the largest sports betting-related media content deals in US history.
Couldn't be more excited @PatMcAfeeShow
#PMSFANDUELFAMILY pic.twitter.com/xNbRJu1lCy
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 9, 2021
In a YouTube video released via the FanDuel sportsbook Twitter account, McAfee hailed the deal, suggesting he’d been paid an “absurd amount of money” to continue producing content.
In tandem, the former NFL punter has pledged to donate more than $8.2m of this bumper contract to seven US charities.
McAfee, who had an eight-year career in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, transitioned into sports media following his retirement in 2016, initially joining Barstool Sports before leaving in 2018.
The 34-year-old hosts the Pat McAfee Show on YouTube, with more than 800,000 subscribers, and hosts a tri-weekly podcast with former Green Bay Packers linebacker AJ Hawk.
It is unclear if AJ Hawk was included in the bumper deal.
The Pat McAfee Show is currently distributed on SportsGrid – the 24-hour OTT sports betting channel, and TVG – FanDuel’s national television network dedicated to horseracing.
Additionally, McAfee’s highlights clips and dedicated content are distributed by FanDuel across its digital properties, social media channels and syndication network.
FanDuel offers special odds and unique promotions created by McAfee that offer customers the chance to engage with him throughout the year as well as operating a talent scouting and development network to build the next generation of influencers and personalities.
Pat McAfee left millions of dollars on the table when he retired from the NFL.
He wanted to start creating content & people thought he was insane.
Now, just 4 years later, he has signed a ~$120 million deal with FanDuel, or roughly 8x what he made in the NFL.
That's legendary.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 9, 2021
McAfee’s bumper deal illustrates a significant re-upping of the emerging market of sports betting-related media content which has become an important marketing tool for operators.
Other similar agreements include DraftKings’ $50m deal with ex-ESPN host Dan Le Batard’s podcast and BetMGM’s recent partnership with US comic Bill Burr and his All Things Comedy podcast network.