Fans left divided by Pat McAfee’s first album as some are left ‘blown away’ while others label it ‘a waste of time’
Pat McAfee has left fans divided after the release of his first album, ‘Diary Of A Polarizing Figure’.
The controversial ESPN host, who is in line for a huge pay rise as he negotiates an extension on his $30million-a-year deal, released the 14-track album on Friday and quickly generated plenty of reaction online as fans flocked to listen.
Announcing the album last month, McAfee wrote on social media: ‘For as long as I can remember my mere existence has made people hate my guts. I’ve been writing songs about it for 20yrs & it’s time to let them aht.. A LOT of headlines & narratives.. if I was to die, I’d like my kids to know exactly who their dad is.’
After causing a storm by accepting an invite by Donald Trump to attend the Patriot Games this week, he leaned into the controversy to promote the release of his album.
And speaking about its release as The Pat McAfee Show began, he explained how the project dated back to a meeting with Jelly Roll then a first trip to Nashville to set the wheel in motion in July 2025.
‘Pretty pumped up about the fact, and I’m speaking for everybody here, that just the folks in the Thunderdome don’t have to listen to these songs all day, every day any more,’ McAfee said. ‘It’s been a lot of fun kind of piecing this whole thing together.’
Pat McAfee has released his debut album, ‘The Diary Of A Polarizing Figure’
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He explained how the starting point came after he told Jelly Roll about a note full of lyrics in his phone that he had been compiling through his life.
He explained: ‘They say the most basic form of writing is like rhyming. But that’s literally how I would write. I would just write random lyrics or choruses or melodies, just to get me through life, what I was going through. To motivate me to keep going, my perspective on things.
‘So I told Jelly Roll about that, and I was like ‘at some point in my life I’ve got to find out if these suck’. At some point I’ve gotta find out.’
His ESPN colleagues were quick to offer support, with Dan Orlovsky writing on X that ‘the album is legit good good,’ while Kirk Herbstreit appeared on McAfee’s show and said: ‘You really got some strong lyrics and sent some really good messages. … Can you maybe do some on GameDay?’.
But fans were torn, with one writing on social media: ‘This is a visceral waste of time. Close your eyes and picture what the best moments of a Pat McAfee album would be like. I guarantee you they are not here. There is no Fenix Flexin-esque ghost in the machine, not even a funny lyric.’
Another added: ‘I made it to about the twitter line on the pat mcafee album before turning it off which I think is about 7 seconds in,’ and others commented: ‘That Pat McAfee album is atrocious’ and declared: ‘I am convinced the Pat McAfee album was made solely by AI.’
One summarized the album for those not wishing to listen by saying: ‘I listed to a handful of songs from the Pat McAfee album so you don’t have to It’s basically Pat going into an AI generator and asking it to make songs that sound like TEMU Jelly Roll’ as others noted the latter’s influence, writing: ‘This sounds like songs jelly roll said no to.’
One X user wrote: ‘Just listened to the Pat McAfee album and all I can say is wow. Came in skeptical and ready to hate, but was fully blown away. The passion, the artistry, the vocals… All layered in way more AI dog**** than I could’ve even dreamt of.’
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McAfee has received mixed reviews after releasing his first 14-track album
But plenty of McAfee’s loyal fans offered support, replying: ‘Album of the year. Your (sic) a hater’ and ‘Nah. There’s some heat on there.’
Another fan said: ‘Kinda Dope what yall cooked up, Still digesting but it’s going down delectable. Pitbull n Mugshot… Attitude is elevation Stay Up’ and one declared: ‘First song in… absolute HEATER’.
‘Enjoyed the whole album!’ a user wrote. ‘And several really shined. Well done, brother. Thanks for opening yourself up to us this way’ and a others told McAfee: ‘F*** the haters, this s*** is great.’
But others were concerned as to the impact the album might have on McAfee’s wider career.
A concerned supporter wrote: ‘It makes me sad, but this might actually cause damage to McAfee’s brand. Flying a little too close to the sun. Just heavily manufactured noise.’
