Jeff “Vibbs” Vibbert has shared his experience working with Pat McAfee (Getty Images)
Podcast host Pat McAuliffe then jokingly raised the figure to $20 million a year, prompting Vibbert to reconsider with a laugh: “Okay, alright.
Jeff “Vibbs” Vibbert, who spent more than a year alongside McAfee at Barstool Heartland from 2017 to 2018, recently described a workplace shaped by emotional tension and uncertainty. Vibbert’s account focused on what he said was a pattern of suspicion and unpredictable reactions during their time at Barstool Heartland in Indianapolis. McAfee had said he hoped to “never return” to the university and later said he felt uncomfortable and unsafe on campus. “I think that paranoia is who he is,” Vibbs said on the “Out & About” podcast. “You have to co-sign the paranoia and be [like], ‘Yep, you’re very valid in what you’re thinking…’ You were just, like, never allowed to go at him or say anything… ’cause if he felt a slight, he’d react,” he added. The comments paint a picture of a work environment in which, according to Vibbert, staff had to consider not only what they said but also how McAfee might respond. “Pat would just be like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’re fine,’ and then talk [expletive] behind your back,” Vibbs said. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines When asked whether he missed working with McAfee, Vibbert initially said “there’s no amount of money” that would persuade him to return. “I don’t think he’s an evil person,” he said.
Pat McAfee’s outspoken personality has helped him become one of sports media’s biggest names, but a former colleague has offered a less flattering account of working with him. Speaking on the Out & About podcast, Vibbert claimed employees often had to watch their words and anticipate McAfee’s reactions. His comments have drawn fresh attention as McAfee faces criticism over his recent remarks about the University of Utah. Speaking on the Out & About podcast, he connected that experience to McAfee’s response to a University of Utah video featuring students mocking the ESPN personality. The university subsequently removed the video and issued an apology. “Like, he’s always paranoid. When we were working there, you’re just kind of walking on eggshells, wondering what he’s going to be like emotionally when he shows up. Who’s he going to be mad at? Who’s he going to be feuding with? That kind of uncertainty can make ordinary workplace disagreements difficult to resolve, particularly when employees feel unable to challenge the person in charge. Vibbert also described frustration with what he saw as indirect communication between McAfee and his colleagues. “And it was like, ‘All right, dude. Like, just say what’s going on. It was exhausting. It was not a good time. Yeah. The conversation then turned to whether Vibbert wanted to see his former boss fail spectacularly. He did not answer, leading McAuliffe to remark, “Listen, your silence is deafening. Despite his criticism, Vibbert offered a more measured assessment of McAfee himself. “I think he needs to learn to control his emotions and treat people better. That distinction matters. Vibbert’s account is a former employee’s personal recollection, not an independent assessment of McAfee’s character or the entire workplace. Still, his remarks raise questions about how McAfee’s forceful public persona translates into professional relationships behind the scenes. The comments also leave room for a more complicated picture than outright hostility: Vibbert criticised the experience without suggesting his former boss was beyond improvement. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Vibbert suggested that McAfee’s reaction was consistent with what he had experienced years earlier.