Everywhere you go, you see Pat McAfee. He’s on “College GameDay.” He’s on “Monday Night Football.” He’s producing music. Until recently, he was at WWE events.
Now, he’s coming to the big screen.
McAfee is in Netflix’s “The Mosquito Bowl,” which is also being released in theaters. The polarizing ESPN personality’s first film role is his latest project, and it might be one of his most interesting yet.
Here’s what you need to know about McAfee’s role in “The Mosquito Bowl.”
MORE: Ex-ESPN female anchors call out Pat McAfee
Pat McAfee’s role in ‘Mosquito Bowl’
McAfee plays a drill sergeant in “The Mosquito Bowl,” which centers on a story that intertwines football and war during World War II.
While there are plenty of opinions about McAfee, there is little doubt he goes and gets what he wants. McAfee, having read the book the movie is based on, actually approached director Peter Berg after he heard a film was in production and said he wanted a role.
“He told Berg he planned to go to Parris Island, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in South Carolina where the soldiers depicted in the film report for training,” USA Today reported, noting that the ESPN host “spent five days on base with recruits” before being cast.
Berg told USA Today that McAfee did all this to prove he could play a role in the film, and he was then granted that role.
The drill sergeant played by McAfee in the movie doesn’t have a name, but it’s a foot in the door for the 39-year-old if he wants to prove he can be an actor.
MORE: Pat McAfee doubles down on University of Utah criticism
What is ‘Mosquito Bowl’ about?
“The Mosquito Bowl” is based on the 2022 book “The Mosquito Bowl: A Game of Life and Death in World War II” by Buzz Bissinger, who is also the author of “Friday Night Lights.”
The book tells the story of former college football players who played a football against one another while serving in the Mariners during World War II. 65 players participated in the game, and 15 died in the Battle of Okinawa the following year.
The movie stars Nicholas Galitzine and Bill Skarsgard; it was released in theaters on Oct. 30 and will start streaming on Netflix on Nov. 25.
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