Pat McAfee Announces Birth of Son ... And He Has a Golden Name

Baby Midas Robert McAfee was born four weeks early after Samantha McAfee experienced severe preeclampsia during a high-risk pregnancy. An emergency C-section was required, and the baby was taken to the NICU to help transition from the womb to the world. McAfee described the experience as both scary and serious, with the baby connected to multiple medical devices. Because the baby’s lungs were strong, the parents were able to have immediate newborn bonding moments such as skin-to-skin contact and many kisses. For 36 hours, McAfee alternated between the NICU and Samantha’s recovery. He also shared that he had long wanted to name his son Midas, inspired by Greek mythology.

"He will soon join older sister, 3-year-old Mackenzie. According to McAfee, this was a high-risk pregnancy for his wife, and she contracted severe preeclampsia, causing Midas to enter the world four weeks early. As a result, "he was sent to the NICU to help the transition from the womb to the world," wrote McAfee, 39, a former NFL player, analyst on College GameDay and host of ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show.""

"Though McAfee's tone is light, he noted that it was "a bit scary to see your baby hooked up to so many 'very serious' things." Luckily, because the baby's lungs were strong enough, the parents didn't miss out on those "immediate magical newborn moments ... skin to skin, 10,000 kisses, tons of love, all of that.""

"For 36 hours, McAfee "bounced back and forth" between his son in the NICU and his wife, who was "recovering like a bada-- from the mind-boggling C-section surgery." He continued, "Watching Samantha battle thru her recovery has been nothing short of inspiring. WE APPRECIATE YOU @MrsMcAfeeShow, I will be sure that our kids will know how much you went through for them.""

"McAfee has been dreaming of having a son named Midas for a long time. "The name 'Midas' has been the name I'd hoped to name my baby boy, if I was to ever have kids, since my freshman year of high school when Mrs. Nonnenberg (RIP Legend) taught me about Greek mythology," he wrote. "When you come from not a lot, the thought of everything you touch becoming gold was certainly an immediate draw for me.""

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