He helped the Razorbacks to a 31–10 win over Georgia in the 1976 Cotton Bowl Classic, earning him the game's Defensive Most Valuable Player award.

He started his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at his alma mater before moving on to the high school level.

Returning to the college football in 1986, McAfee was hired as defensive coordinator by Bill Pringle at Tarleton State University.

In 1988, McAfee succeeded Pringle as head coach at Tarleton State and spent the next five years leading the team.

McAfee died on November 22, 2008, of a massive heart attack while exercising on a treadmill in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he lived.