FBI advised ESPN star Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
The FBI advised ESPN commentator Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest in the week after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in 2025, according to a source familiar with the matter. The report has renewed attention on the safety concerns facing prominent media figures, as McAfee recently said he did not feel safe filming College GameDay at Utah Valley University.
McAfee did not specify what made him feel unsafe on campus. ESPN said it takes threats seriously and supports his concerns about security; an official university account had posted a video that students used to mock him. The FBI’s advice was first reported by Front Office Sports, and McAfee had not responded to a request for comment by the time the article was published.
In short
- FBI advised Pat McAfee to wear a bulletproof vest after Kirk’s assassination.
- McAfee recently said he felt unsafe filming at Utah Valley University.
- ESPN said it takes threats seriously and supports his safety concerns.
Explained simply
Pat McAfee is a former American football player who became a sports commentator for ESPN, a major US sports broadcaster. He also hosts a popular talk show and appears on College GameDay, ESPN’s programme covering college American football.
Charlie Kirk was a prominent US conservative activist who was assassinated in 2025. His killing prompted renewed concern about threats to well-known public figures, including people in media. The FBI is the US federal agency responsible for investigating major crimes and domestic security threats.
College GameDay visits university campuses, where students and crowds gather to watch the programme being filmed. Security concerns around such events can affect staff, guests and the wider campus community.