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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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It’s been debated for the past few years who’s the actual face of ESPN — Pat McAfee or Stephen A. Smith?
Well it seems the network is about to answer that question as McAfee is reportedly in line to receive a nice new ESPN contract that will pay him roughly three times more per year than what Smith makes, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
“ESPN and representatives for Pat McAfee are discussing an extension to his contract that would pay him more than $60 million per year, sources briefed on the talks told The Athletic,” Marchand wrote.
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“The two sides are currently between $60 to 65 million per year, according to the sources, who were granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing negotiations.”
Even if McAfee comes in on the low end of those negotiations, his salary would dwarf the $20 million per year Smith now makes under the five-year, $100 million contract he agreed to last year.
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Smith also has a separate three-year, $36 million contract with SiriusXM to host his “Stephen A. Smith Show,” which Marchand points out brings his total yearly compensation to nearly $40 million between that and what he makes at ESPN.
Though Smith has repeatedly said there’s no bad blood between him and McAfeee, nor is there any competition between the two to be the face of ESPN, one has to assume there’s at least some friendly competition between them both as they’re competing for money, fame, and celebrity while working for the same network.
Marchand also reported as part of the deal that McAfee will take on additional responsibilities including having more of a presence on the network’s range of NFL programs in addition to his role as a college football analyst on “College GameDay” and hosting his “Pat McAfee Show” on weekdays.
McAfee currently has two more years left on his ESPN contract, which pays him $30 million per year as part of a split deal that pays him on a production agreement and as an on-air talent.
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