• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Get your ticket now!

Aaron Rodgers’s Appearances on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ ‘Done’ For Now

  • Rodgers’ jab at Jimmy Kimmel, where he hinted at a link to Jeffrey Epstein, created strife within Disney.
  • McAfee announced on Wednesday’s show that Rodgers’ ‘Season 4 is done.’
Aaron Rodgers mcafee
Syndication: The Record

Aaron Rodgers’s weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show are “done” for a few weeks, McAfee announced at the start of Wednesday’s show.

The move comes after the New York Jets quarterback’s appearance on last week’s show — in which Rodgers insinuated Jimmy Kimmel could be associated with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — opened a​​ “can of worms” within Disney, the parent company of ESPN and ABC. Kimmel threatened the possibility of a lawsuit after Rodgers’s comments last week and called Rodgers a “hamster-brained man” when his ABC late-night show returned from break on Monday. 

“There could be a lot of people that are happy with [Rodgers not appearing on PMS], myself included, to be honest with you—the way it ended, it got real loud,” McAfee said on Wednesday. “I’m happy that that is not gonna be my [social media] mentions going forward, which is great news. … I’m pumped that this is no longer gonna be every single Wednesday of my life, which it has been for the last few weeks.

“We’ve messed up in that particular aspect, and by ‘we,’ I mean, we’re a conversation show, people are having conversations, we live in a country that has freedom of speech, but also you’re gonna have to deal with the consequences of your freedom of speech.”

McAfee wasn’t specific on when Rodgers who has appeared on the show for years—could return.

“Our fans know that [Rodgers’ segment] ends shortly after Aaron’s team’s season ends,” McAfee posted on X (formerly Twitter). “That’s how it’s been. He’ll make random surprise welcomed pop ins during big events or offseason adventures but, it’s always been a season thing. I never said he’ll never be on the show again. I hope he chooses to still chat with us.”

That wasn’t the case after Rodgers’ final season with the Packers last year. His last game with the Packers—where he won a Super Bowl and four MVPs in his 18 seasons in Green Bay—was played on Jan. 8, 2023. Rodgers then appeared on PMS on Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, and Feb. 14 before he was off the show for about a month.

ESPN has “no clarity” on when Rodgers could return to PMS, a source told Front Office Sports. The source confirmed that the decision was made by McAfee.

McAfee signed a five-year deal worth $15 million annually with ESPN, a licensing deal that put PMS on ESPN and the network’s other platforms. 

“I negotiated my own deal here,” McAfee said Wednesday. “I’m running my show. I keep my creative rights.”

But McAfee didn’t step back from his comments on Friday’s show, when he said ESPN executive Norby Williamson was a “rat” who was “attempting to sabotage” PMS

“Obviously, I threw us in the fire as well,” McAfee said. “Forever stand by that. Everything else though, we can’t do that, and that’s not what I want to be known for.”

Kimmel asked for an apology on Monday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, but Rodgers failed to give one on his Tuesday appearance.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The cast of ESPN College GameDay begins their show prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Texas Longhorns at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. The show is the final one for Lee Corso.

OSU Sophomore Wins $250K in McAfee ‘GameDay’ Kicking Contest

The former NFL punter started offering prize money for kicks in 2023.
Stan Verrett and Neil Everett

Stan Verrett and Neil Everett Have Uphill Climb to Succeed on Twitch

The former ESPN anchors’ new show will also be distributed on YouTube.

Less Belichick Hype Could Mean Bad News for CFB Stakeholders

UNC had never begun a football season with so much hype.

Bill Belichick’s Star-Studded UNC Coaching Debut Turns Ugly

Michael Jordan highlighted a long list of celebrities in attendance.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.

NFL on Nielsen’s Latest Measurement Upgrade: ‘More Work to Be Done’

The league calls its relationship with the agency a “protracted journey.”
August 28, 2025

NFL Preseason Sees 17% Jump in TV Ratings, Best Since 2018

Average audiences for the exhibition games increase sharply from last year.
September 1, 2025

Lee Corso’s Farewell Delivers Record ‘College GameDay’ Viewership

ESPN averaged 3.5 million viewers, per preliminary figures.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
Tom Brady
August 27, 2025

NFL Continues to Loosen Tom Brady Restrictions

Brady will be able to attend production meetings–remotely–this season.
ESPN
August 27, 2025

Disney Sues Sling TV Over $5 Day Passes Granting ESPN Access

Newly introduced short-term subscriptions spark a legal challenge.
August 27, 2025

FCC Chair Joins Fox–YouTube TV Fight With Big Game on the Line

The Trump appointee is now involved in another media carriage fight.
Aug 24, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Tommy Fleetwood holds the FedExCup Trophy on the 18th green after winning the TOUR Championship golf tournament.
August 26, 2025

PGA Tour TV Ratings: Fleetwood’s Breakthrough Caps Playoff Surge

Sunday’s final round drew nearly 4.5 million viewers on NBC.