During his eight-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts, Pat McAfee made a name for himself as one of the league’s most dynamic punters-part technician, part entertainer, and always ready for the big moment. He played in a Super Bowl with the Colts during the 2009 season, a game that ended in defeat against the New Orleans Saints. But as it turns out, McAfee had a shot at redemption more than a decade later-this time with Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to Bruce Arians, who was the Buccaneers’ head coach at the time, McAfee was nearly part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl-winning roster in the 2020 season. With the Bucs facing a special teams crisis in December-COVID-19 protocols had sidelined their entire unit ahead of a Week 15 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons-Arians made a call that raised some eyebrows and could’ve rewritten a chapter in McAfee’s story.
Arians reached out to McAfee to see if he’d consider coming out of retirement to handle both punting and kicking duties. Remember, McAfee hadn’t played since 2016, but his leg was never the question. The man could still boom punts and had the kind of on-field swagger that thrives under playoff pressure.
McAfee was reportedly interested. He was ready to lace ‘em up again.
But there was one catch-a drug test. And that, according to Arians, was the dealbreaker.
“He said, ‘I gotta pass a drug test?’ I said, ‘Yep.’ ‘Aw f***, I’m out,’” Arians recalled during a conversation for a series focused on the mental side of sports.
It was vintage McAfee-honest, unfiltered, and always good for a quote. But behind the humor was a very real what-if.
The Buccaneers went on to win the Super Bowl that season, capping off Brady’s first year in Tampa with a Lombardi Trophy. McAfee, meanwhile, watched from the sidelines-literally and figuratively.
He later opened up about the call from Arians on The Pat McAfee Show, reflecting on the surreal nature of the opportunity and why it didn’t pan out.
“If I was worse with the way I handled COVID, I’d probably have a Super Bowl ring right now,” McAfee said. “If I had the antibodies, I potentially would’ve came back potentially for a team one week. But I got tested, did not have the antibodies, because I never had the COVID.”
It’s a moment that blends humor with hindsight. McAfee wasn’t just a punter who could’ve filled in-he was a known quantity to Arians.
The two had crossed paths years earlier when Arians served as the Colts’ offensive coordinator and interim head coach in 2012. That familiarity likely played a role in Arians making the call in the first place.
Since hanging up his cleats, McAfee has carved out a second act that’s arguably just as impactful as his playing career. He’s been a fixture at ESPN since 2019, bringing his energy and insight to college football coverage and shows like Get Up.
In 2022, he took on a bigger role with College GameDay, and eventually launched The Pat McAfee Show under the ESPN umbrella. Now, he’s one of the main faces of GameDay, blending analysis with entertainment in a way few former athletes have managed.
The near-miss with the Buccaneers is just another chapter in the evolving McAfee saga. It’s a reminder that even in retirement, the NFL can come calling-and sometimes, the answer hinges on more than just talent.