Pat McAfee To Announce Pick During The 2026 NFL Draft

The NFL has a tradition of having fans and alumni announce some of the picks throughout the NFL Draft. This year, several dozen former and even current players are on that list of participants. With ESPN producing the show, one of the network's top talents will be making one of their picks.

On Thursday, the NFL announced its list of players set to announce picks during the draft next week. Among them are Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Curtis Martin, Ronde Barber, John Stallworth and a slew of others.

The man representing the Indianapolis Colts will be their outspoken ex-punter, Pat McAfee.

McAfee in the NFL

Not that he won't constantly remind people about it, but McAfee has become so big for his podcast career that it becomes easy to forget that he played for the Colts for a pretty long time.

McAfee played eight seasons for Colts from 2009 to 2016. Drafted out of West Virginia University in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, McAfee quickly became one of the league's top specialists thanks to his powerful leg, hang time, and strong kickoff ability. He earned two Pro Bowl selections and was named first-team All-Pro in 2014. Known for his athleticism, he also became popular for making tackles in coverage and occasionally executing surprise onside kicks or trick plays.

McAfee was a key contributor on several playoff teams in Indianapolis and gained respect as one of the NFL's best punters during his prime. Over his career, he averaged more than 46 yards per punt and consistently ranked among league leaders in net punting and touchbacks prevention. He retired after the 2016 season at age 29, citing multiple knee surgeries and a desire to pursue other opportunities.

After a brief run in standup, McAfee built his own podcast into one of the biggest brands in the industry.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 1:29 PM.