The New York Post reported on McAfee's relatively low ratings on Thursday, noting: “Since the McAfee show began on ESPN in the fall, Stephen A. Smith and 'First Take' have given McAfee a lead of 583,000 viewers, and McAfee is holding just under.” 302,000, a decrease of 48%.”
McAfee suggested that Williamson may have passed the idea for the story to New York Post reporter Andrew Marchand. Marchand declined to comment.
“I think Norby Williamson is the guy trying to sabotage our program,” McAfee said. “I'm not 100 percent sure. This is apparently the only person who has information, and then somehow that information gets leaked, and that’s wrong.”
McAfee did not say specifically which information was false. Over the years, other ESPN talent has speculated that Williamson leaked private details, including contract information, according to people familiar with the matter. On Friday, former ESPN journalist Jemele Hill posted on the social media platform X “I can relate” in reference to McAfee's comments about Williamson.
There is no evidence that Williamson leaked information. Williamson, who has worked for ESPN for nearly 40 years, declined to comment through an ESPN spokesman.
There is also a group of ESPN employees who have complained about McAfee's show and his big contract. McAfee signed a five-year, $85 million contract with ESPN in May.
ESPN management appreciates the importance of both McAfee and Williamson and is investigating the details of why McAfee disparaged an executive, according to a person familiar with the matter. According to a person familiar with the matter, no suspension is planned for McAfee and ESPN hopes to find a path forward for both Williamson and McAfee.
An ESPN spokesman declined to comment.
Earlier this week, McAfee got into trouble for giving New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers a platform to disparage a Disney colleague. Rodgers, a frequent guest on McAfee's show, falsely suggested that ABC late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel would be included in court documents related to the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel fired back on Tuesday, tweet Rodgers' “reckless words” expressed [his] Family in danger.
McAfee later apologized for the Kimmel comments.
“I could understand exactly why Jimmy Kimmel felt that way, especially with his position,” McAfee said Wednesday, noting that Rodgers “actually went too far.”
ESPN also addressed Rodgers' comments about Kimmel on Friday.
“Aaron made a stupid and factually inaccurate joke about Jimmy Kimmel. This should never have happened. We all realized that in that moment,” said ESPN executive Mike Foss said Front Office Sports.
The New York Post previously reported that McAfee paid Rodgers “millions” to appear on his show. The former MVP and Super Bowl champion, who has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in the NFL, joined the Jets last year after playing more than a decade with the Green Bay Packers. He missed the season due to an Achilles tendon injury.
A representative for Rodgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.