Pat McAfee appears to be doubling down on his scathing criticism of ESPN Norby Williamson, referring to “old witches” at the network after accusing the director of sabotaging his show.
It was a week of drama for McAfee and his show, which started when Aaron Rodgers baselessly suggested that Jimmy Kimmel could be on the since-released list of Jeffrey Epstein's associates.
The late-night host of his own eponymous show on ABC has yet to be listed following the release of four tranches of unsealed court documents.
Then on Friday, McAfee launched into a tirade about executives within ESPN who he says are trying to take down his show from within.
McAfee, who is paid $17 million a year by ESPN, called “rats” at the network and railed against “the enemy within our own camp.”
Pat McAfee has doubled down on his scathing criticism of ESPN executive Norby Williamson
McAfee singled out veteran director Norby Williamson and accused him of leaking information
But speaking from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, ahead of Monday night's College Football Championship game, McAfee admitted that while his team is grateful for ESPN's support, there are still people at the company who aren't yet on board want to come.
The former Indianapolis Colts punter said, “ESPN has set us up pretty well here (in Houston).
“Now there were some comments about a certain person at ESPN, you know, that I only made on the ESPN+/YouTube show. That wasn't even on linear TV. I didn't know anyone would hear it because it was digital only.
'I think everyone has heard it. It was obviously a topic of discussion all weekend and the one thing I'm hugely disappointed about is that a guy we really like, a guy who watched the game with us in the suite – Burke Magnus – who is currently the new is the guy in charge at ESPN, right under Jimmy Pitaro, I think he looked bad because of what I did and how I did it.
“I would like everyone to know that we love Burke Magnus and we love Jimmy Pitaro, we love Bob Iger, but there's quite a transition here between the old and the new, and the old doesn't like what the new does.
“So there will be some of that, but we're very grateful. A lot of people say I'm trying to get fired. Not really. What ESPN has been able to do for us, especially when they do things like this (they have them at the College Football Championship).
“You have no idea of the behind-the-scenes crew that we've actually worked with all year. Not only on Game Day, but also for our show when we travel. We have nothing but love for all these people.
McAfee launched a furious attack on some of his ESPN bosses during Friday's show
'There are certainly people we don't like. Certainly. And they don't love us. That's how it's going to be and I don't take back anything I said about that person, but the overall storyline about us and ESPN that I think people need to remember is that we're a strong baby.
'We all understand what the future looks like. There are just some old witches who may not do that, but we'll move on from that.”
McAfee singled out veteran director Williamson, who spent nearly four decades with the organization, and accused the 'Executive Editor & Head of Event and Studio Production' of leaking information and trying to take down the show.
His comments came after claims last week that the show would not retain viewers who tuned into 'First Take' earlier in the day. And that the show's numbers are lower than SportsCenter's when it occupied the same slot last year.
During Friday's show, McAfee said, “We understand that more people are watching this show than ever before. We are very grateful to the ESPN folks for their hospitality.
'Now there are people actively trying to sabotage us from ESPN. More specifically, I believe Norby Williamson is the man trying to sabotage our program.”
The former gambler admitted that he had no concrete evidence to support his accusation.
“I'm not 100 percent sure – that's apparently the only human who has information, and somehow that information gets leaked and it's wrong, and then the story of what our show is gets told,” he continued .
'Are we just going to fight that from a rat every time? Don't know. But someone tried to get ahead of our actual viewing figures twelve hours in advance with wrong numbers.
The show sparked controversy earlier this week after comments from Aaron Rodgers (center)
The late-night TV host angrily hit out at X, saying Rodgers' claims 'put my family in danger'
“That's an attempt at sabotage, and it's actually been happening all season long by people who didn't necessarily love the Pat McAfee Show's old addition to the ESPN family.”
The host suggested there are “a lot” of people within the organization trying to “tear him down.”
“We've heard them quoted anonymously in the media… it's always little things that try to bring us down,” he said.
“I don't like that man (Williamson), he let me into his office for 45 minutes in 2018 – and he didn't let me see it – so this man has had no respect for me whatsoever and in return he got the same in return for a long time. '
McAfee added, “Even as this is happening, we're still growing somehow.”
Rodgers, meanwhile, will address the stir he caused by suggesting Kimmel will be on the list of Epstein's associates at his next appearance on the show on Tuesday.
Kimmel threatened the New York Jets quarterback with legal action last week, and Rodgers had his first opportunity to further explain his comments at a news conference with the Jets on Monday, now that their NFL season is over.
Asked if he had any regrets, he told reporters: “I'm going to talk about it on the show tomorrow. Switch.'
