ESPN's Pat McAfee Calls Out X User Who Sent Chilling 'Charlie Kirk' Threat Live on Air

Pat McAfee has publicly exposed an X user after the account posted a disturbing threat referencing the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk.

The incident unfolded after McAfee posted about the Indianapolis Colts' 33-30 overtime defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, September 20. Kansas City won the Week 2 clash at Arrowhead Stadium with Harrison Butker converting a 40-yard field goal as time expired in overtime.

Among the replies to McAfee's post was one that went far beyond ordinary criticism of the former NFL punter.

The account wrote that McAfee being 'kirked' live during his show would be 'a top 3 moment in the history of mankind.'

The wording is a reference to Kirk, who was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on 10 September 2025. The FBI confirmed that Kirk was killed during the shooting and said a suspect was later taken into custody.

Rather than simply ignoring the message, McAfee took a screenshot of the post and shared it with his followers on X.

Fans React After McAfee Shares Message

McAfee's decision to amplify the post quickly attracted attention online.

The broadcaster has about 3.3 million followers on X, meaning the screenshot placed the account's message before a significantly larger audience.

The response prompted a wave of reactions from NFL fans, with several users commenting on the decision to post the threat publicly.

'I didn't realise he actually read it out hahahahahaha,' one fan said.

'Gotta put this on the resume but you're near certainly getting a fed visit,' another fan remarked.

'Watch for dem black trucks,' someone else added.

The account behind the original comment subsequently deleted the post after McAfee shared the screenshot.

There was no immediate indication that the deleted post had resulted in law enforcement action. No law enforcement involvement had been publicly reported in connection with the message at the time of publication.

The reference to Kirk carries particular weight because his death remains a significant political and criminal case in the United States. The FBI said investigators recovered what they believed was the weapon used in the shooting and released footage of the suspected shooter leaving a rooftop after the attack.

McAfee's Growing ESPN Profile

The episode comes as McAfee continues to occupy a prominent place across ESPN's football coverage.

The former Indianapolis Colts punter hosts The Pat McAfee Show and has also become a regular presence on College GameDay and other ESPN broadcasts. His highly outspoken style has made him a frequent target of criticism online, although the latest message crossed into an explicit reference to deadly violence.

McAfee's relationship with ESPN has also grown substantially since the network began carrying his programme. Reports in June said ESPN and McAfee's representatives were discussing a potential extension worth more than $60 million (£44.85 million) per year. His existing ESPN arrangement was reported to be worth around $30 million (£22.43 million) annually.

The reported figures reflect McAfee's expanding role across the network, including his daily programme and other major sports assignments.

For now, McAfee has not publicly commented further on the threatening message beyond sharing the screenshot.