Pat McAfee Show headlines all-star media lineup visiting Hall of Fame for Enshrinement

As the Pro Football Hall of Fame prepares for the arrival of thousands of fans and a record number of returning Hall of Famers for Enshrinement Week presented by Novartis, the Hall will also welcome a star-studded group of live shows and podcasts.

“The Pat McAfee Show” and ESPN are bringing their popular daily show to Canton and will be live from the Upper Lot at the Hall of Fame from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. The show is open to the public and is a part of Sugardale Fan Fest ’26, a nationwide tailgate celebration that spans Wednesday to Sunday (during select times) at the Hall of Fame.

The iconic Rotunda that was a part of the Hall’s original construction in 1963 will serve as the show’s background as McAfee and his crew kick off the NFL’s 107th season. At 8 p.m. Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers will meet in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game presented by Novartis.

McAfee’s show airs Monday through Friday from noon to 2 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN+ and YouTube, then for an additional hour on ESPN+ and YouTube. McAfee is joined by co-hosts A.J. Hawk, “Boston” Connor Campbell, Ty Schmit and Anthony “Tone Digz” DiGuilio. The team is no stranger to road trips, having recently traveled to Pittsburgh and Omaha, Nebraska, this year for the NFL Draft and College World Series, respectively.

In the last decade, McAfee has risen to prominence in the sports media world. Following his successful playing career, which included All-American honors at the University of West Virginia, eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and two Pro Bowl selections, McAfee launched his own podcast in 2017. After stints with Barstool Sports and SiriusXM’s Barstool Power 85, he moved full time to ESPN in May 2023. McAfee also stars on “College Gameday” on ESPN as an analyst.

In addition to “The Pat McAfee Show,” a plethora of other media groups are traveling to Canton to record content surrounding Enshrinement Week, including ESPN’s “The Biggest Game,” NFL’s “Second Acts,” “Bussin’ with the Boys,” Purdue’s “For Pete’s Sake” and “Inside Bassmaster.” These groups will all film from the Hall of Fame Presentation Center inside the museum. Fans will be able to see each media group from outside the event space but are encouraged not to stand and watch to improve museum traffic. 

“The Biggest Game” podcast stems from ESPN’s “Year of the Super Bowl” initiative as they are set to host Super Bowl LXI in Inglewood, California. The podcast releases weekly episodes on the history and impact of the Super Bowl and is hosted by ESPN journalist Jeremy Schaap. The episodes will run through the Super Bowl and are available on the NFL on ESPN YouTube channel.

“Second Acts” is hosted by former NFL standouts Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Roman Harper. Tillman played 13 years in the league and helped lead the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl 50 appearance alongside 2026 enshrinee LUKE KUECHLY. Harper was a three-year starter at the University of Alabama and drafted by the New Orleans Saints, where he led them to a Super Bowl XLIV championship with 2026 enshrinee DREW BREES. The podcast focuses on football legends’ transitions away from the gridiron and how they have found success after their playing careers.

“Bussin’ with the Boys,” hosted by former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, launched in 2019 and has since grown to be one of the premier sports podcasts. Many episodes are recorded from the "Boys' " bus, a mobile recording studio. Compton and Lewan’s conversations with each of their guests are “locker room” style and unfiltered, making for a fun atmosphere for listeners. The show has featured a host of great athletes and personalities including Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Bills quarterback Josh Allen and UFC President Dana White.

“For Pete’s Sake” is the official podcast for Purdue Athletics and hosted by Purdue basketball radio voice Rob Blackman and comedian and content creator Joey Mulinaro. The podcast officially launched in August 2025 and goes behind the scenes of Purdue sports.

“Inside Bassmaster” is hosted by Ronnie Moore and Kyle Jessie. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Bassmaster announced their partnership this past June. On Aug. 31, the organizations will host the inaugural Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am in Clayton, New York.  

Groups also traveling to Canton are the NFL’s Alumni Health podcast, “Passing the Torch” and Smith+Nephew’s Firefighter Rob podcast, as well as live radio shows ESPN 103.7 (Lafayette, Louisiana) and Q92 (Alliance, Ohio). These groups will be located in the Stadium Park Parking Lot near the Hall of Fame.

To read more information on the podcast schedule and Sugardale Fan Fest ’26, click here.