Safety Concerns for ESPN’s Pat McAfee After Advice from FBI

Following the assassination of Charlie Kirk last year, the FBI advised ESPN commentator Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest due to safety concerns. The advice was confirmed by a source familiar with the situation to OutKick. McAfee referenced Kirk recently while discussing his discomfort about filming ‘College GameDay’ at Utah Valley University.

McAfee shared his thoughts during his show, questioning if any dangerous incidents occurred at college events in Utah lately and expressing worries about being targeted for criticism at the university. He said, ‘Like, do we think we should be amplifying reasons for why people hate my guts as a university? I don’t know.’

Charlie Kirk’s assassination has impacted how conservatives navigate interactions with hostile opponents.

Front Office Sports initially reported the FBI’s advice to McAfee. He was present on ‘College GameDay’ before a Tennessee Volunteers versus Georgia Bulldogs game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on September 13, 2025.

In response to McAfee’s concerns, ESPN stated its commitment to taking all threats seriously, acknowledging McAfee’s valid security concerns. The exact reasons for McAfee’s unease on campus remain unclear. A viral video from an official university account showed students mocking him, labeling his actions during ‘College GameDay’ as ‘corny.’

Kirk’s assassination has heightened safety worries among media personalities known for polarizing positions. As a prominent figure in sports media, McAfee frequently faces hysteria and false accusations online, especially after interviewing President Trump on ESPN earlier this year.

McAfee participates regularly in ESPN’s ‘College GameDay,’ broadcast from various college campuses. He appeared in Norman, Oklahoma, for the University of Oklahoma versus Michigan college football game on September 6, 2025.

OutKick sought comment from McAfee regarding the FBI’s advice, but he did not respond by publication time. Updates will follow if McAfee provides an official statement.

Bobby Burack is a writer for OutKick.