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Pat McAfee, an ESPN announcer who previously kicked for the Indianapolis Colts, lashed out at sportswriters for his outrage over a reporter’s comments toward Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Jacksonville Free Press Associate Editor Lynn Jones-Turpin made the comments that sparked debate in online sports media. She told Coen: “I’m going to say, congratulations on your success, young man. Keep your head up. You guys have had a great season. You did a great job today. Just keep your head up, okay? Ladies and gentlemen, Duval. Keep up the good work. We’ve got another season.”
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Pat McAfee at the 2025 Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
Jones-Turpin’s words caused consternation among journalists who make their living covering the NFL and sports in general. NFL fans ignored it because sports reporters take themselves too seriously.
McAfee sided with the fan in a long rant posted on X.
“I love watching these sports ‘journalists’ get ABSOLUTELY BURIED for being grumpy bums…” he wrote. “OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL, but a LARGE % of these things hate sports…they hate what sports are to people (happiness). They hate what sports are to society (unifying). They are political journalists by nature who have taken advantage of sports because they saw it as an easier path to ‘make it.’
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AJ Hawk, Pat McAfee and Darius Butler conduct an alternate game broadcast for ESPN from field level during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Miami Hurricanes at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025. (Raymond Carlin III/Image Images)
“Their days are numbered…my show airs on ESPN 10 hours a week with ZERO creative opinion from any ‘journalism school’ stooges is living proof of that…that’s why they attack me as much as possible…I’m happy the world is starting to see what they really are. Now…We as a society need to stop taking these particular humans seriously. Their opinions and thoughts come from a place of wanting to destroy sports.”
McAfee suggested that the negativity over Jones-Turpin’s comments meant that journalists “will never understand” that “sports are the best thing in the world.”
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks with reporters after an NFL Wild Card Playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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“Also…thank you Lynn Jones for creating a situation for me and all of us about how Liam Coen, a man who could be a (GOAT) when he’s done, handles praise during one of his most miserable moments. He handled it with class and humility…feels like there was actually some journalism done there,” he added.
