Colts Punter Pat McAfee Retiring From NFL At 29 To Join Barstool Sports

Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee is saying goodbye to the NFL after eight seasons.

Pat McAfee leaving colts for Barstool Sports

The 29-year-old made the announcement late Wednesday night in a faux press conference on sports blog Barstool Sports’ new sports show on Comedy Central, “The Barstool Rundown,” where daily news from the week leading up to the Super Bowl are recapped.

McAfee, in a letter posted to Twitter, explained he met with Colts owner Jim Irsay for 45 minutes on Monday to inform him of his decision. The punter thanked the Colts, Irsay, and the city of Indianapolis for the support over the years.

Irsay praised McAfee, who played his entire NFL career with the Colts, and wished him luck in a tweet Thursday morning:

“Pat was a terrific player and ambassador for us. He will be missed, and we wish him all the best!” He wrote.

Health problems have plagued the punter in recent years. McAfee is about to have his third knee surgery in four years, something he said helped contribute to his decision to retire. He still had two years remaining on his five-year, $14.5 million contract.

McAfee’s tenure with the Colts did not begin on a good note. The seventh-round 2009 draft pick out of West Virginia was arrested for public intoxication after he was found swimming in an Indianapolis canal in October 2010.

Nevertheless, McAfee went on to become one of the top punters in the NFL, while also being a member of one of the best special-teams units in the league, along with kicker Adam Vinatieri and long-snapper Matt Overton. 

McAfee became known for celebrating good punts by mimicking a golf swing or strutting around the field like UFC fighter Conor McGregor. In eight seasons with Indianapolis, he averaged 46.4 gross yards per punt and 39.8 net yards per punt and was named to two Pro Bowls .

Barstool Sports made news earlier this week when the NFL announced it was pulling the outlet’s Super Bowl LI credentials due to Barstool’s Deflate-gate protest at the league’s headquarters in 2015.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 08: Pat McAfee #1 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after the 55 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri during the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)