Pat McAfee Chokes on Potato on Live TV

ESPN's Monday Night Countdown analyst choked on a fried potato during an on-air segment, prompting advice from fellow analyst Mina Kimes.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a loaded fried potato centered on a studio desk under warm light, with a blurred stadium glow behind it. — ESPN analyst Pat McAfee choked on a fried potato during Monday Night Countdown's broadcast before the Cowboys-Eagles game in Philadelphia on October 26. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Pat McAfee choked on a potato on ESPN's Monday Night Countdown during an on-air segment before the Cowboys-Eagles game in Philadelphia on October 26. ESPN went to a commercial break while McAfee was choking on the food item.

Why it matters

The incident drew attention to live-broadcast food segments on a show that is averaging 1.6 million viewers this season. It also prompted commentary from fellow ESPN analyst Mina Kimes on eating on television.

ESPN reports Monday Night Countdown is averaging 1.6 million viewers, up 26 percent and its best start in a decade. The stub does not say whether the viewership change is linked to the segment itself.

The players

Pat McAfee

Pat McAfee is a former NFL punter who now works as a full-time sports media personality and analyst for ESPN.

Mina Kimes

Mina Kimes is an ESPN analyst and writer known for her work across the network's sports programming.

The details

McAfee took a big bite of a $20 fried baked potato topped with breaded chicken cutlet, pimento mac and cheese, hot honey bacon jam and 215 sauce during the show's broadcast window of 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. The clip of McAfee mid-bite was later played on the Desus Pieces show, where Kimes and Desus Nice discussed it.

October 26: McAfee choked on the potato on Monday Night Countdown before the Cowboys-Eagles game in Philadelphia.
November 3: An article reported Kimes' advice to McAfee on eating on television.

Season Trajectory

Monday Night Countdown is averaging 1.6 million viewers this season, up 26 percent, and has had its best start in a decade. The on-air incident comes during this stretch of audience growth for the ESPN pregame show.

The clip has been widely circulated, and fans watching Monday Night Countdown can see how ESPN handles live food segments going forward. Viewers tuning in for the pregame show now have a clear example of the risks of on-air eating.

The takeaway

Live on-air food segments carry real risks, and this incident shows how quickly a lighthearted bit can turn into a broadcast interruption. Viewers and producers alike may take note of how the moment was handled.