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Who is ex-NFL player Pat McAfee and when did he sign to WWE?
ON Friday, WWE confirmed ex-NFL punter Pat McAfee will be joining the SmackDown announce team as an analyst.
McAfee will make his debut on SmackDown Friday night joining Michael Cole, vice Ppesident of WWE's on-air announce talent.
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Who is Pat McAfee and when did he sign with WWE?
McAfee was born May 2, 1987 in Plum, Pennsylvania and grew up playing soccer, volleyball, and football.
In addition to being a record-breaking punter in the NFL, he has had an impressive career post-football.
McAfee was first involved in wrestling in 2009, but would make appearances in WWE's NXT brand nine years later.
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In 2017, Barstool filmed the former football player training to become a wrestler with Rip Rogers.
In 2018, he interfered in a match between Adam Cole and Aleister Black and it was soon announced that he signed a deal with WWE in 2019.
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He would begin hosting WWE pay-per-view watch-alongs on YouTube.
In 2020, he began a feud with the current NXT Champion Adam Cole.
He has since made sporadic appearances in NXT, and is now a part of the SmackDown announce team.
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When was Pat McAfee in the NFL?
McAfee was drafted to the NFL in 2009 by the Indianapolis Colts. He played his entire NFL career with the Colts.
In 2017, he retired from the NFL after eight seasons and announced that he was joining Barstool Sports as a contributor.
McAfee cited his ongoing knee injuries and his bad relationship with Colts' general manager Ryan Grigson as the reason he was retiring.
During his time in the NFL he broke punting records and was in the Guinness World Records for successfully kicking a 40-yard field goal while blindfolded.
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What are Pat McAfee's other professional endeavors?
In 2012, McAfee and his father founded The Pat McAfee Foundation, a non-profit organization with the goal of providing assistance for the sons and daughters of military personnel.
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After leaving Barstool Sports in in 2018, he began Pat McAfee, Inc.
He has also appeared as an analyst with Fox Sports, ESPN, DAZN, and Westwood One.
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