The Pacers' deep run in the NBA playoffs means more Pat McAfee, as the sports media personality is one of Indiana's most public supporters.
While the Pacers don't have many celebrity fans, McAfee has catapulted to the top of the list as Indiana has played the Knicks, a team that has countless celebrity fans. However, McAfee's Pacers fandom is relatively new, but that doesn't make it any weaker than his counterparts.
McAfee's life has taken him down an interesting path, leading to becoming one of Indiana's loudest and proudest fans. How did he get to this point? Here's a breakdown.
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Where is Pat McAfee from?
McAfee grew up in Plum, Pennsylvania, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. McAfee went to high school at Plum High School, where he played a variety of sports but really honed in on his football skills as a kicker and punter.
Even since McAfee has moved away from Pittsburgh, he remains close to his hometown. McAfee is a Penguins fan, as it helps that Indiana doesn't have an NHL team, and he produced a live show from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh earlier this year.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 10, 2025
YOU ALL ARE THE GREATEST PEOPLE ON EARTH#BigNightAHT pic.twitter.com/HKhLqM1vxQ
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Where did Pat McAfee go to college?
Despite growing up near Pittsburgh, McAfee went to college at the University of West Virginia from 2005-08. As the Mountaineers' punter and kicker, McAfee played in 51 games during his college career before becoming a Colts' seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Since graduating, McAfee has been very vocal about the West Virginia football program, as the Mountaineers recently hired Rich Rodriguez as their new head coach. Rodriguez previously coached West Virginia from 2001-07 and was the coach that helped recruit McAfee.
It's fair to say McAfee supports Rodriguez returning to Morgantown.
It’s the attention to detail.. how you do anything is how you do everything type mindset.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 13, 2024
Coach Rod’s lessons didn’t all land with me while I was at WVU.. a lot of them hit later in my life. “Coach Rod was right” became a very regular thought while trying to become a pro and run…
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Why is Pat McAfee a Pacers fan?
McAfee spent his entire NFL career with the Colts, from when the team drafted him to when he retired after the 2016 season, which connected him to the state of Indiana for the rest of his life. As a result, when McAfee began "The Pat McAfee Show" after he retired, he chose to base the show in Indiana to keep him in the state instead of moving to another market.
Therefore, McAfee adopted the Pacers as his NBA team after joining the Colts, as he didn't grow up with a basketball team in Pittsburgh. The Colts, Pacers and Fever are the only three professional sports teams in the state, giving them strong connections to each other.
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Pat McAfee Colts career
McAfee was the Colts' primary punter for his entire career, starting in 2009 when Indianapolis made the Super Bowl. During his eight-year career, McAfee made two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro Team, missing just one game over that span.
The former punter became a fan favorite during his time with the Colts thanks to his outgoing personality and strong performance on the field. Even after he retired, McAfee remains close with the team and fanbase.
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What is 'Hoosier Hospitality?
After Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, singer John Cougar Mellencamp called out Pat McAfee for attacking the New York celebrities who made the trip to Indiana. In the statement, Mellencamp referenced McAfee's lack of "Hoosier Hospitality," largely poor sportsmanship towards the New York fans, as the singer apologized to everyone for McAfee's actions.
— John Mellencamp (@johnmellencamp) May 29, 2025
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Who is Pat McAfee's wife?
McAfee has been married to Samantha McAfee since 2020, and together the two have a daughter named Mackenzie. She's the founder of Fur the Brand, a non-profit organization that brings awareness to canine cancer.
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Pat McAfee net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, McAfee is worth $60 million thanks to his careers as a punter, media personality and WWE commentator.
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