By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER
Published: 19:25 EST, 14 November 2025 | Updated: 19:25 EST, 14 November 2025
Former ESPN host Sage Steele has claimed Pat McAfee is in 'full control' at the network and that 'no rules' apply to the controversial anchor.
The retired punter has been at the center of a number of controversies since bringing his daily talk show - The Pat McAfee Show - to ESPN back in 2023.
McAfee caused another storm this week when he interviewed president Donald Trump on Veteran's Day. That prompted some fans to call for a boycott of his show.
But Steele - who left ESPN in August 2023 - was not surprised that McAfee got away with conducting the phone-in with the Commander-in-Chief.
She pointed out that the ex-NFL star last year went to war with senior ESPN executive Norby Williamson, calling him out live on air and suggesting a 'rat' within the network was trying to 'sabotage' his show.
'This is Pat McAfee,' Steele told the 'Fearless' podcast. '[He] dropped the name Norby Williamson and called him a rat, and then doubled down and did it again on his show on ESPN and was not punished.'
Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele has claimed Pat McAfee is in 'full control' at the network
Donald Trump
Pat McAfee
Williamson left the network a few months later.
'[McAfee] actually had Burke Magnus, Norby’s replacement, come and do a selfie with him on the field… there were no repercussions,' Steele said.
'For that to happen - whether everybody agrees or not - when you rip an executive, name-drop and call him names and nothing happens, you know that you have full control.'
Steele continued: 'Can you imagine them telling him no? That’s not happening. It’s impossible and Pat knows that... that man has no rules.
'And I think it’s hysterical because I’m picturing being a fly on the wall watching the executives meltdown as this interview happened... but they could not tell him no.'
Steele joined ESPN in 2007 but was removed from the air in 2021 after making controversial statements about vaccine mandates, female sports reporters, and the racial identity of former President Barack Obama.
She filed a lawsuit against the network, claiming her right to free speech had been violated and alleging that ESPN had retaliated against her over the comments. Steele left in 2023 after the lawsuit was settled.
ð¨ BREAKING: Pat McAfee just FIRED BACK at liberals who are outraged he interviewed President Trump today ð«³ð¤
"For the immediate people that are mad - it's the president of the United States. It's Veterans Day. He's the Commander-in-Chief. Obviously, if we have the opportunity… pic.twitter.com/LQwCMY8LkJ
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 11, 2025
McAfee, meanwhile, defended his decision to interview Trump, telling his critics: 'It's the President of the United States.'
McAfee continued: 'It's Veterans Day. He's the Commander-in-Chief. Obviously if we have the opportunity to talk to him, we're going to. And he's hilarious!'
The host also claimed that he and his team reached out to Barack Obama after Trump agreed to go on the show, only for the former President's schedule conflicts to prevent an interview from happening.
During their discussion, McAfee spoke with Trump about America's veterans, the current government shutdown, college football and the controversial NFL kickoff rule that he wants changed.