Colts punter Pat McAfee makes surprise retirement announcement
Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee announced his retirement from the NFL Wednesday on Comedy Central's Barstool Rundown.
The 29-year-old Pro Bowler, who will be joining Barstool Sports, channeled his comedic side in his retirement video, which features cameos from teammate Adam Vinatieri and Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen.
Breaking News: Pro Bowl Punter @PatMcAfeeShow has retired from the NFL to join @BarstoolSports Welcome aboard Pat! pic.twitter.com/E6kPt45TDi
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 2, 2017
McAfee later took to Twitter to express his thoughts in a lengthy post.
"I'm at a point now, where I want to shift my obsessive-like focus, to making the world a happier and hopefully, a better place," he wrote, referring to his new role in the media.
Dear Indiana, pic.twitter.com/FJISS001J3
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 2, 2017
McAfee was elected to his second Pro Bowl in 2016, after leading the league in gross punting average (49.3), but chose to sit out the all-star game due to a looming knee surgery. The operation will be the third knee surgery for McAfee in the last four years.
After being picked in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, McAfee totaled 26,669 punting yards and 21 tackles during his eight year career.
The veteran punter leaves the game with two years left on his current contract.