Pat McAfee Critiques Sports Journalists Over Liam Cohen’s Comments

ESPN’s Pat McAfee, known for his previous career as a punter with the Indianapolis Colts, has criticized sports journalists in light of recent comments made about Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Cohen.

Lynn Jones-Turpin, the deputy editor of the Jacksonville Free Press, congratulated Cohen on a successful season, encouraging him to hold his head high. Her remarks prompted a response from some journalists covering the NFL, who seemed to be unsettled by her tone. Meanwhile, a lot of NFL fans viewed the response from the sports media as overly serious.

McAfee expressed his support for the fans in a lengthy post on X, stating, “It’s great to see sports ‘journalists’ being disregarded for their mean comments.” He suggested that many in this field don’t appreciate what sports provide to people and society, calling them “essentially political journalists” who exploit sports for easier success.

He continued by asserting that traditional sports journalists are losing relevance, mentioning the success of his own show on ESPN, which runs for ten hours a week without interference from mainstream journalism standards. “That’s why they attack me so often,” he remarked. McAfee argued that these journalists seem to want to undermine the sport itself.

In a nod to Jones-Turpin’s support for Cohen, McAfee maintained that, unfortunately, many journalists will “never comprehend” the idea that “sport is the greatest thing on earth.” His comments highlighted the importance of understanding how certain interactions and congratulations in sports can be significant.

Overall, he expressed gratitude to Jones-Turpin, saying she highlighted how Cohen, who might become a legend, handles praise during tough times with dignity and grace. “There was some genuine journalism happening there,” he concluded.