How a College Football Analyst Ate His Way Through Viral Fantasy Football Punishment

As Joe DeLeone got ready to fulfill an overdue fantasy football punishment on Saturday, he anticipated a memorable and challenging day ahead. Little did he know that his experience would unexpectedly become a viral sensation.

DeLeone, a college football analyst and on-air host for Bleav Network, went viral over the weekend after sharing his league’s unconventional penalty for coming in last – a full day spent at his neighborhood McDonald’s.

However, there is a caveat: he could consume his way to freedom.

The first post sparked a lot of interest on Friday, with observers sharing tips on how to tackle the McDonald’s menu. By the following morning, he was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with prominent brand accounts and sports media figures joining in on his viral challenge.

A sportsbook playfully set betting odds on whether DeLeone would spend more or less than 16 hours in McDonald’s. He exceeded expectations by opting for less time, spending only eight hours, consuming over 7,000 calories, and gaining almost 5,000 new followers.

DeLeone expressed in an exclusive interview with Underscoreg Review on Tuesday that he never anticipated the significant growth of his project. He was so absorbed in enjoying the process that he didn’t fully grasp the level of recognition it was receiving.

Our Morgan Xaviero recently interviewed DeLeone about his viral moment, his experience surviving the McDonald’s challenge, and his future both on and off the virtual gridiron. Please note that this interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q&A with Joe DeLeone after “McDonald’s challenge”

To start, what actions led to this day of punishment and excessive indulgence? Who caused harm to you on the football field?

I remember this from two years ago when I was avoiding a punishment from my league. My friends were constantly reminding me to do it. I barely missed the playoffs with a record of 7-7 and a decent team. I had a few early injuries but finished strong, just falling short of making the playoffs.

I was not fully focused during the playoff period and ended up losing the first-round consolation game. In our league tradition, even with a strong team, losing the first-round game means you move on to compete in the Toilet Bowl. If you lose that as well, regardless of your record, you end up finishing in last place.

The opposing team was not performing well, with only three wins, while my team was holding up fine and theirs was excelling heading into Monday Night Football. With Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase on my team, I was trailing by just over 30 points, confident in a easy victory. However, that all changed with the unexpected incident involving Damar Hamlin.

Editor’s note: The NFL canceled the rest of the Jan. 5, 2023 game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals following Hamlin’s cardiac arrest in the first quarter.

The situation was complicated and challenging, and I didn’t want to overreact or panic. I accepted the teasing from my league mates for coming in last place for a few months. I didn’t think I would actually have to do the punishment, but my procrastination led to my friends insisting that I follow through with it.

That could be the one rare case in NFL history where there is no room for appeal. You simply have to accept it and move on.

Isn’t that right? I recall when that occurred, many individuals were competing in championships. My co-host and dear friend Sean Anderson shared that he experienced a similar situation that year, winning his championship and offering some consolation to the runner-up. It had a profound impact on many individuals, and I’m sure many can relate to what I’m saying.

Did you not consider sharing these 12 hours with the other person? Was there no conversation about that possibility?

I thought this would be a fun experience, but I never expected it to become so popular. As an aspiring full-time on-air host, I have done many radio guest spots covering various topics to build a following. I believed that my followers would enjoy seeing me be authentic and have fun, and maybe it would gain some attention. I was surprised by the overwhelming response, especially since it happened in the middle of June when there is usually not much happening in the football world.

When did you first realize that your tweet had the potential to go viral?

Honestly, I’m not sure if the impact of it all ever truly sunk in. I’ve had tweets go viral before, waking up to thousands of likes and thinking it was cool, but it wasn’t until the end of the day, when I realized it had 34,000 likes and a huge viewership, that I understood the magnitude of it all. I was so caught up in the moment and having fun that I didn’t fully grasp the level of recognition it was receiving.

What were your emotions like that morning as you made your way to McDonald’s?

After running 13 miles that morning, I was both famished and eager. Knowing that I would be indulging in McDonald’s, I strategically timed my run to burn extra calories. It may have been my longest run yet. Despite my hunger, the anticipation of satisfying my cravings at McDonald’s fueled my excitement.

What were the most helpful tips you received from online sources leading up to that day? And what were some of the least helpful?

There were an overwhelming number of comments to keep up with. One of my co-hosts, Blake Ruffino, suggested I try as many big breakfasts as I could, which turned out to be the top recommendation. Some viewers suggested I eat multiple Filet-O-Fishes, but I couldn’t even stomach one as I find them unappetizing.

Can you explain the strategy behind this in more detail? I heard you mention adopting a “full PFF” approach to comparing reduced minutes with calorie intake. Did the research ultimately benefit you or have a negative impact?

While it didn’t completely derail me, the pain I experienced was significant. Despite the importance of calories, the impact of grease is often overlooked. I tried to minimize my calorie intake by choosing to eat 17 hash browns, but it was a mistake as they turned out to be extremely greasy.

I believe it was beneficial for me to consume all those apples, but looking back, I would have focused less on calorie content and more on choosing foods that provided better value for the time spent eating, such as a hearty breakfast with hotcakes. In the end, I ended up eating two of those meals.

What ended up being on the final menu and how many calories did you consume in total?

The total calorie intake was approximately 7,000, which may seem like a high number. However, it is easy to exceed this threshold without realizing it, especially during vacations or social outings. In this case, the intake consisted of two large breakfasts with hotcakes, 17 hash browns, 23 packets of apple slices (with four slices per packet), and four McChickens.

Can you provide an estimate of how many ounces of grease you consumed? Perhaps pounds would be a more appropriate unit of measurement?

Wow, I can’t even put a number on it, but it felt like I had consumed 100 pounds of food after finishing those hash browns.

I overheard you saying that you had a $100 bet that you could leave within eight hours. Were you feeling confident about accomplishing that?

I must admit, the side bet provided a lot of motivation. My friend created a spreadsheet and we enjoy teasing each other. When another friend completed the task in 14 hours, he started challenging me. I confidently declared, “This will be easy. I’ll finish in just eight hours.”

He began to challenge me, saying, “I bet you $100 that you can’t do it. I’ll give you nine hours, I don’t think you’ll make it.” Despite the pressure, I was determined to reach eight hours, even if I didn’t announce my progress on social media.

Whose idea was it for you and your friend to have the opportunity to eat your way out of it?

Our fantasy league consists of our high school friends, and we didn’t always have a punishment every year. However, a few years ago, we decided to start enforcing consequences as a way to keep things fun and also to stay connected since we are now spread out across the country.

Initially, the original punishment involved completing the Waffle House challenge, where the individual had to spend 24 hours in a Waffle House and eat a waffle to subtract an hour. However, due to the participant being located in New Jersey and the lack of nearby Waffle Houses, the challenge was modified to the McDonald’s challenge.

This may not be a continuous challenge for us, as we discussed my options and ultimately decided that I should do the McDonald’s challenge, inspired by our friend Michael. That’s how I ended up taking on the task.

After leaving, how did you feel in the aftermath of your McDonald’s experience when you walked out liberated?

It’s difficult to put into words. I felt extremely groggy, almost as if I was in a foggy state, not quite drunk but definitely not functioning at full capacity. My body felt sluggish, like it was weighed down with something… not necessarily garbage, but something heavy.

This article is not sponsored, so we can be truthful.

I couldn’t think clearly after eating so much fast food, all I wanted was to nap. Thankfully, I went for a walk afterwards which helped boost my energy and burn off some calories. Despite feeling groggy, I was eager to go home and lay down.

You may not have noticed all the comments at the time, but I’m sure you later saw the many name brands attempting to benefit from your viral moment. Were there any interactions that stood out to you in particular?

Many individuals contacted me for radio spots and other opportunities. Some articles have focused on my participation in challenges like the “NFL fan does McDonald’s challenge,” but I see myself as an on-air host and content creator. I have experience in radio spots and have appeared in various markets before, so it wasn’t too surprising to receive offers from familiar places. Although nothing felt surreal about the radio opportunities, I was extremely grateful for every connection made.

I am a huge fan of Barstool and especially Big Cat. It was such a surprise when he followed me out of nowhere yesterday. It was definitely the highlight of my day. Additionally, I had a fun interaction with Dude Wipes. Their social media manager lived nearby and brought me a box of products. He even put on the mascot head and took a photo with me, which was hilarious. It was a clever move on their part to capitalize on the publicity.

How do you plan on preventing this from happening again next year? Will you repeat it for the sake of content, or is your fantasy football integrity too strong?

(laughs) I’m not sure if I would repeat it for the sake of content. I believe such a situation is only likely to occur once in my lifetime. While I do want to move on from it to some extent, I am certain that I will not be in last place again. It was an anomaly. My placement in that instance was a very uncommon event, as I am typically a consistent playoff contender.

Do you have any additional insights or advice to share from your experience completing the McDonald’s challenge?

Overall, I am thankful for the enthusiasm and positivity shown by everyone during the event. It was a rare occasion on the internet where everyone seemed to be having a good time without any criticisms or negative reactions. We were all united in enjoying watching this guy relax in a McDonald’s.

I am hopeful that this opportunity will contribute to the growth of my brand and eventually lead me to achieving my dream of becoming a full-time on-air host. The past year has been successful for me in terms of the progress I have made and the recognition I have received for my work. I am eager to transition from being a producer to hosting my own show.

For updates from Joe DeLeone, follow him on X @joedeleone. Don’t miss his college football coverage on Hack City and The Ruffino & Joe Show on the Bleav Podcast Network. Additionally, he serves as the podcast producer for The College Football Enquirer on Yahoo Sports.