Pat McAfee Responds to Security Concerns Following Recent Events

Pat McAfee recently spoke out about reports suggesting that he was advised to wear a bulletproof vest after the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, and the troubling climate that has led to threatening messages being directed at him on social media.

On Tuesday, various news outlets claimed that the FBI had recommended McAfee wear a bulletproof vest a week following the incident involving the 31-year-old political activist. McAfee, now 39, explained in a detailed social media message that this recommendation stemmed from “one of the security groups.”

“I haven’t really discussed what the days were like leading up to Tennessee’s ‘GameDay’ last year,” McAfee mentioned on X. “There’s been some miscommunication, but it’s somewhat accurate. Everyone in the security field was concerned about a potential copycat event occurring. With ‘GameDay’ approaching and us being the next significant gathering, it was clear that we were in an extreme environment.”

“The FBI, along with Disney security, Tennessee State Police, Knoxville PD, and University Police, were all focused on ensuring safety in the area. The presence of FBI snipers was noted, and the amount of police was overwhelming. It felt surreal. Discussions about the death threats I received were definitely prominent. I’m not sure it was the FBI that suggested the vest, but it was definitely proposed by one of the security teams. We honestly didn’t know what to expect; nobody had faced such a situation before. Everyone was looking out for each other. I was never more grateful for the people supporting me that morning, including the students who went above and beyond to help.”

In his post, McAfee shared screenshots of unsettling messages he received this month from various social media users, one of which expressed a desire for the former kicker to be dead and “thrown off an aircraft carrier.”

Another message he received contained homophobic slurs while threatening him with violence. “Once you’re knocked unconscious, one of your cowboy boots will be shoved down your f–king throat,” part of the message read.

“This month, I’ve steered clear of my notifications and DMs after these back-to-back incidents, but… I can imagine that if I checked them now, there’d be plenty of death threats waiting for me,” McAfee said on X. “They really are everywhere.”

“And they still exist, right? I just don’t know the person is from Ohio, but that’s where I happen to be right now.”

Over the weekend, McAfee made headlines with a more subdued appearance on “College GameDay” at the University of Utah. He expressed frustration over a video that featured students mocking him. In his post, he noted that after a critical article in The New York Times, he felt “a bit f–ked up” seeing a university-associated video stating, “we think he’s a corny creep here.”

“It’s such a strange time. The comments regarding what my family deserves are pretty outrageous,” McAfee added.

The University of Utah later issued an apology for the video criticized by McAfee. Despite one student calling him corny, there were no accusations of him being creepy, a claim he made in his post and when discussing the matter on his ESPN show the following Monday.

In closing, McAfee remarked that he is far from “perfect” and never anticipated that fame would take him down this path. “I’ve been scrutinized and criticized online for as long as I can remember,” he reflected. “I’m definitely not perfect, and I understand that not everyone will agree with me, but I never expected life to unfold this way.”

“I’m doing my best in real time, focusing on sports and the future of sports. Sports mean everything to me, and I’m incredibly thankful to be in this position. I strive to appreciate every moment of the amazing experiences that come my way, but I must admit, it’s a different life than I ever could have imagined.”

“I pour everything I have into this, and I sincerely apologize to those who can’t stand me,” he concluded.