Pat McAfee Retires: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

Dear Indiana,

McAfee said he will join Barstool Sports in his message, which Ian Rapoport of NFL.com called a "Super Bowl surprise."

Dan Katz of Barstool Sports welcomed McAfee to his new team:

Big Cat @BarstoolBigCat

Welcome to the family, @PatMcAfeeShow. We're taking over the world #ThisIsNotFakeNews #ScheftyGotDunkedOn

McAfee made a separate retirement announcement in an amusing press conference on Barstool Sports that included Indianapolis kicker Adam Vinatieri and Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (warning: NSFW content): 

Barstool Sports @barstoolsports

Breaking News: Pro Bowl Punter @PatMcAfeeShow has retired from the NFL to join @BarstoolSports Welcome aboard Pat!

The Colts thanked their punter on their Twitter page, and Colts owner Jim Irsay later chimed in as well:

Indianapolis Colts @Colts

Can't say it enough... #ThankyouPat.

Jim Irsay @JimIrsay

Pat was a terrific player and ambassador for us. He will be missed, and we wish him all the best!

Mark Strotman of CSN Chicago noted McAfee would have made $2.95 million in each of the next two seasons with his Colts contract before this decision.

The West Virginia product entered the league in 2009 as a seventh-round pick and appeared in 127 regular-season games for Indianapolis. He punted 575 times for a 46.4-yard average and booted his career-long punt of 74 yards just this past season.

According to ESPN.com, he boasted a career net average of 41.4, while 33.6 percent of his punts resulted in opponents starting inside the 20-yard line.

Nick Shook of NFL.com pointed out that "McAfee was equally, if not more known for his exuberance both on and off the field."

The punter was featured in an in-season morning segment called "Kickin' It with Pat McAfee" on NFL Network, which "he liked to use to let America know that punters are people, too," per Shook. He also used social media to poke fun at the fact he was notified of a drug test after a particularly impressive punt:

Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

Guys...

Given McAfee's comedic chops and on-camera experience, he is a natural fit for Barstool Sports, which started airing The Barstool Rundown on Comedy Central during Super Bowl week.

While Colts fans won't get to watch him pin opponents back inside the 20-yard line anymore, they at least know his unique voice will still be involved in the sports world at his next venture.