Pat McAfee’s scathing response to criticism of his debut album, which has been labelled ‘AI-generated rubbish’

Pat McAfee has never been someone who shies away from doing things his own way, but his latest venture has produced a reaction that even the outspoken sports media personality appears to find difficult.

The former NFL punter released his debut album, The Diary of a Polarizing Figure, on August 14. The 14-track project, which runs for roughly 42 minutes, blends country and rap influences and represents the culmination of songwriting McAfee says he has been doing for around two decades.

Instead of receiving universal support, however, the album has become the subject of widespread online mockery. Some listeners have questioned whether artificial intelligence was involved in creating the record, with particularly harsh critics dismissing it as “AI slop” or “AI-generated rubbish.”

McAfee addressed the backlash directly during a recent question-and-answer session on Instagram, admitting that the response has been difficult but insisting that the project is deeply personal.

“It sucks,” McAfee wrote on his Instagram Story. “I don’t love it.. being a “polarizing figure” isn’t fun, I’d like to be liked by everybody but it’s just not my reality.. never has been BUT, everything always sounds like an echo.

"Folks trying to impress each other. I understand folks hate me but I also know folks are definitely gonna let their jokes fly about me.. Charge it to the game.

“I like the songs a lot. I’m very proud of them. I wrote and sang every word for a 14 song album. The people who put the music around the words are legitimately some of the most talented musicians to ever exist...

"So I just think 5-10-20 years from now when my kids are listening to the songs they’ll know who their dad is... and for that, I’m pumped. Cheers man, thanks for the love.”

Project was about more than music

The controversy over artificial intelligence appears to have become one of the defining talking points surrounding the album. McAfee has pushed back against the suggestion that the record was simply generated by technology, while Nashville singer-songwriter Ernest has also spoken about the process behind the project.

Ernest , who collaborated with McAfee , has said that McAfee used an AI music generator to help create some early demos before the songs were developed in the studio.

That detail has apparently contributed to speculation from some listeners that AI was responsible for far more of the finished product.

Ernest , however, has defended the effort McAfee put into writing the material: “He’s not a musician, but he’s definitely a fan of music and he’s been writing lyrics for years. His phone is so full of notes.”

The album's production involved musicians in Nashville, with McAfee previously explaining that the project was brought to life with help from Ernest and other experienced music professionals. His interest in songwriting isn't entirely new, either. Before the album, he released the single “Dookie” in 2025.

There has certainly been no shortage of criticism. Some reviews have been particularly severe, while others have treated the album as an entertaining extension of McAfee's deliberately unconventional personality.

At least one ESPN colleague, Dan Orlovsky , publicly praised the record, calling it “legit good good,” illustrating just how divided the reaction has been.

For McAfee , though, the response appears to matter less than the personal reason for making the album.

“I’ve been writing songs about it all for 20yrs. It’s time to let them aht..,” McAfee wrote previously. “There’s A LOT of headlines & narratives about me.. if I was to die, I’d like my kids to know exactly who and what their dad is.”

That motivation puts the album in a different context. Rather than simply trying to establish himself as a recording artist, McAfee has described the project as a personal record of his experiences, frustrations and life in the public eye.

That public life has consistently attracted strong reactions. McAfee built his profile after retiring from professional football in 2017, transforming himself from an Indianapolis Colts punter into one of the most prominent figures in sports media.

His success with The Pat McAfee Show eventually led to a major relationship with ESPN, while his work on College GameDay has made him a familiar face to an even wider audience.

The album therefore fits a familiar pattern for McAfee which is to take a risk, embrace the criticism and continue regardless.

Whether listeners ultimately consider The Diary of a Polarizing Figure a serious musical project, an eccentric experiment or something else entirely, McAfee has already achieved one thing the title promised. People are talking about it.

And for someone who has spent much of his career turning controversy and unconventional ideas into part of his appeal, that may be exactly where he is most comfortable.