Pat McAfee is expanding his ESPN presence by bringing his Field Pass show from college football to the NFL, serving as one of three alternate telecasts for Super Bowl LXI while also rolling out a multi-week schedule for Monday Night Football during the 2026 season.
The Bottom Line
- Pat McAfee will host Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show as an alternate telecast for Super Bowl LXI on ESPNU.
- The broadcast format expands to five Monday Night Football games during the 2026 season, starting in Week 6 with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers.
- NFL Network’s rival alternate option, MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats, launches a week earlier in Week 5 for the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.
Super Bowl LXI Alternate Telecast Lineup
For next year’s Super Bowl LXI, ESPN is deploying three distinct alternate viewing options alongside its main broadcast. Pat McAfee’s signature show will air on ESPNU as Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show. The second option is the Super Bowl LXI Playbook with Next Gen Stats, which will broadcast on NFL Network. Meanwhile, the venerable Manningcast returns to its usual home on ESPN2.
During the championship matchup, McAfee will remain in his field-level position alongside Dan Orlovsky and Darius Butler. Crew members Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit, and Tone Digs will provide additional coverage from an in-stadium suite.
Expanded Monday Night Football Schedule
Before reaching the Super Bowl, the alternate broadcast format will test several Monday Night Football windows throughout the regular season. Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show debuts in Week 6 when the Washington Commanders face the San Francisco 49ers. That appearance marks the first of five Monday Night Football editions scheduled for the season, with the stint concluding during Week 18 on January 9.
| Alternate Telecast | Network | First Broadcast Date / Matchup | Total Scheduled Windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show (Super Bowl) | ESPNU | Super Bowl LXI | 1 Game |
| Field Pass with the Pat McAfee Show (MNF) | ESPN | Week 6: Commanders vs. 49ers | 5 Games (Ending Week 18, Jan 9) |
| MNF Playbook with Next Gen Stats | NFL Network | Week 5: Bills vs. Rams | 7 Games |
| Manningcast | ESPN2 | Super Bowl LXI | 1 Game |
