LeSean McCoy Says Pat McAfee Is the Most Powerful Person on Earth After Donald Trump

When a short clip of Pat McAfee casually tossing a lit device into an ashtray during an ESPN broadcast hit the internet, the reaction was instant—social feeds lit up with speculation, jokes, and a lot of shocked emojis. Was it a joint? A vape? Either way, the former NFL punter‑turned‑talk‑show host didn’t miss a beat.

In the midst of the buzz, former running back LeSean McCoy hopped onto the Speakeasy stream and, without missing a rhetorical beat, proclaimed that McAfee must be “the most powerful person other than Donald Trump.” He laughed, but there was a grain of truth in the hyperbole.

“Pat is a kicker, yet he’s more popular than any retired quarterback except maybe Tom Brady,” McCoy said, chuckling. “He can light up on his own show and nothing happens. Call out his boss, get a raise—he basically does whatever he wants.”

The comment may sound over‑the‑top, but it underscored a growing reality: the Pat McAfee Show operates under its own set of rules. Unlike Stephen A. Smith, Mike Greenberg or Peter Schrager, who are bound by ESPN’s strict on‑air policies, McAfee runs a property he owns. If the network has a problem, they can simply delay or edit the feed. As long as the show brings viewers—and ad dollars—ESPN tends to look the other way.

McAfee himself responded with a laid‑back tweet, “Little sage never hurt nobody,” before steering the conversation back to football, dropping a typical mix of sports stats and tongue‑in‑cheek commentary. The tweet, like his on‑air persona, felt half‑serious, half‑joking—a perfect reflection of his brand.

While saying McAfee is second only to Trump might be an exaggeration, the former kicker’s reach certainly eclipses that of many former athletes turned pundits. He’s carved a niche where he can interview the likes of Aaron Rodgers, let them vent about the network, and still keep the show rolling.

In short, the clip sparked a conversation about power, influence, and the shifting landscape of sports media. Whether you view McCoy’s praise as fan‑boy hyperbole or a genuine acknowledgment of McAfee’s unique platform, one thing’s clear: the former kicker has found a way to bend the rules and, in doing so, remind everyone that the media game has new players—and they can still light up on live TV.