Pat McAfee is returning to his roots this summer by participating in a celebrity soccer tournament with former defensive end JJ Watt.
The ESPN personality announced last week that he will be participating in the 2024 edition of the soccer tournament with his team Concafa SC.
McAfee is also co-manager of a team that will participate in a 7-on-7 tournament this summer in Cary, North Carolina.
48 teams will compete for a $1 million prize and will play June 5-10 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Concafa SC is coached by former U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tony Meola.
For McAfee, the event marks a return to his first love.
McAfee spent most of his childhood playing soccer before becoming a soccer punter and kicker.
The Pennsylvania native spent three years on the All-Western Pennsylvania Interhigh Athletic League first team at Plum High School, gaining experience as a striker and defender.
He also participated in several Olympic development teams overseas during his high school years.
McAfee played soccer and American football at West Virginia University before giving up soccer to pursue his NFL dreams with the Indianapolis Colts.
“I've been kicking a ball since I was 3 years old. I fell in love with soccer in 1990,” McAfee once recalled.
“It helped me see the world. We played in the middle of a snowstorm in the middle of the Alps.
“I've scored goals in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and almost every state in America.
“I'm so grateful for this game, but when I came to the conclusion that instead of running three miles and kicking a ball, I could be very successful by walking just three steps and kicking a ball, it really hit me in the knees.” I was excited.”
“Soccer taught me things I could never do in the classroom and introduced me to people who would shape my life forever.”
McAfee dreamed of playing in the World Cup for the U.S. Men's National Team after being selected as a candidate for the Region I Olympic Development Program.
“What I'm really aiming for is Project 2010, which is developing players for the 2010 World Cup. That's the lofty goal,” McAfee said in 2002.
“I'm best at shooting. I can fly the ball well. I want to get better at defense as well.”
McAfee was a talented player, but he was also a bit of a dirty player.
“I used to shave my legs and my arms because I can’t say I was a shithead in football, but I was sneaky,” he said.
“People were pulling the hair on my legs because I was doing that to other people.
“The French hated it. I had a French guy and he ended up kicking me in the chest.
“It was a terrible situation.”