Pat McAfee details security protocol after Utah GameDay incident

Pat McAfee detailed the layered security arrangements in place for his September appearance at the University of Tennessee, clarifying the specific roles of federal and private security teams. The 39-year-old ESPN personality posted a lengthy explanation on X on Wednesday night, addressing rumors about his safety measures following the Charlie Kirk assassination.

McAfee stated that the FBI, Disney security, state and local police, and campus police all coordinated during the Tennessee visit. He confirmed that FBI snipers were positioned on site. However, he disputed reports that the FBI specifically advised him to wear a bulletproof vest. "I don't think it was the FBI that suggested the Bullet Proof Vest, but it was certainly an idea presented by one of the security groups," he wrote.

The clarification follows a series of comments McAfee made on his weekly show earlier this month. He criticized the University of Utah after a social media video mocked him before a College GameDay broadcast on Saturday. McAfee said the experience left him feeling uncomfortable and unsafe. "I did not enjoy the University of Utah," he said. The university later deleted the post and issued an apology, stating that staff took full accountability for the content decision.

McAfee used his Wednesday post to address the volume of negative feedback he has received. He shared screenshots of messages on X, noting that he had avoided checking his mentions and direct messages for the month. He said he expected to find more death threats if he had looked. The host also mentioned that critics made comments about his wife and children, which he described as wild.

The controversy adds to a pattern of online criticism for the former NFL punter. He referenced his comments about Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during the 2024 Paris Olympics, arguing that some media coverage omitted the empathetic portion of his remarks. McAfee said he remains grateful for his career and believes sports can unify people despite the division.

He described the security conversation during the Tennessee trip as surreal. He said the discussion about death threats was a major part of the planning. "I never felt safer and never felt more appreciative of the people that were around me that morning," he wrote. The post serves as a direct response to questions about his physical safety during public appearances in Utah.

McAfee concluded his message by reaffirming his role in sports media. He said he is there to talk about sports and care about their future. "I love sports because it's unifying. That's all I'm ever trying to be.. actually," he wrote.