Pat McAfee WWE commentary role on hold due to ESPN College GameDay job

This story was updated at 12:20 PM Eastern.

WWE commentator Pat McAfee has picked up a significant new role in sports media that will see his commentating career on SmackDown put on hold.

The New York Post reported on Tuesday night that McAfee is joining ESPN’s “College GameDay” as a full-time member of the show. “College GameDay” airs live on Saturday mornings every week during college football season.

McAfee will be in Austin, Texas this Saturday, where “College GameDay” is airing from ahead of the University of Texas facing the University of Alabama.

While the New York Post initially reported McAfee will remain with WWE, McAfee said on his show Wednesday that WWE felt it was better for his health and family and such if he focused on the ESPN opportunity even though he wanted to do both.

“I’m still very much part of the WWE family,” he said.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque weighed in on Twitter to further explain and reiterate that McAfee will remain associated with WWE.

He will continue with his daily Pat McAfee Show.

McAfee posted a tweet last night noting that he’ll discuss the details of his “College GameDay” deal on Wednesday’s show.

“GameDay is a show that I’ve been a fan of FOREVER,” McAfee wrote. “So many moving parts including real cool conversations w/ the fine folks from WWE..all moved quickly. Will lead show manana w/ all the deets.”

McAfee, who calls SmackDown on Friday nights alongside Michael Cole, signed a multi-year contract extension with WWE this July. That month also saw McAfee step into the ring, with him defeating Happy Corbin at SummerSlam.