Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee Blasted by Former No. 2 Pick for ESPN Fallout

Ryan Leaf was a highly touted quarterback coming out of Washington State. He was selected as the second overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.

His career, however, didn't pan out. He only lasted and played in three seasons, which were marred by a myriad of issues on and off the field, including tumultuous relationships with his teammates.

After the NFL, he faced personal and legal challenges, including struggles with substance abuse and multiple arrests.

But he worked to rebuild his life, eventually landing a job on ESPN in 2019 as a college football analyst. However, he was sacked last year in the middle of the season after a public spat with ESPN's "College GameDay" hosts Kirk Herbstreit and Pat McAfee over conference realignments.

On the “Outkick Hot Mic” on Tuesday, Leaf addressed the issue and claimed that Herbstreit and McAfee influenced ESPN to fire him.

“By that time, I had confirmed with people why it happened," Leaf said. "When I got them (ESPN producer) on the phone, I was just like, ‘Yeah, I think this is about right. I think you and I, we don’t have shared values and so I think this is probably the proper decision.'"

He added that Herbstreit and McAfee don't like to be called out.

“(They) are the most overly sensitive people I’ve ever met for guys who live in this high platform,” Leaf said. “They get criticized all the time, but boy, God, are they overly sensitive. Narcissists.”

After getting the pink slip, Leaf revealed that Herbstreit and McAfee reached out to him. He, however, didn't think anything of it.

“They tried play it off like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,'" Leaf shared. “Just silly stuff. It is what it is.”

Leaf, who also played for the Dallas Cowboys, remains a staunch advocate for mental health, using his story as a cautionary tale to help others avoid the pitfalls that derailed his career.

Related: Pat McAfee's Monday Night Raw Appearances Get Hit With Huge College Football Update