McAfee's On-Air Smoking Incident Sparks ESPN Controversy

Pat McAfee, the ESPN personality, sparked controversy after a viral clip showed him extinguishing a smoldering item on his show on September 17, 2026. The incident led to widespread speculation that he had smoked marijuana on air, though McAfee later suggested it was sage or CBD. During the episode of The Pat McAfee Show, viewers noticed McAfee placing what appeared to be a lit item into an ashtray while continuing his broadcast. The clip circulated rapidly on social media, drawing over a million views on X. McAfee responded on X with the post, "Little sage never hurt nobody," and engaged with followers who suggested it was either sage or CBD. On September 19, 2026, McAfee's ESPN colleagues on College GameDay, including Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit, joked about the incident. Saban quipped, "I actually think if we had some of your gummies, we would have won more games," referencing the speculation. The exchange highlighted the lighthearted response from within ESPN, despite the online backlash. McAfee has a history of discussing marijuana use, including on the All the Smoke podcast, and was previously seen using a vape pen during the 2025 NFL Draft coverage.