Maggie Sajak shares very rare photo with Pat in tribute to his last birthday while still host

MAGGIE Sajak has pulled a photo from the archives to celebrate her dad’s big 77th birthday.

The milestone was especially emotional since it was Pat’s last birthday before retiring from Wheel of Fortune.

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Maggie Sajak shared a photo with Pat as a youngsterCredit: Instagram/maggiesajak

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Pat gently guided Maggie onto the Wheel of Fortune stage as fans gushed: ‘Too cute!!’Credit: Wheel of Fortune
Maggie, 28, shared the throwback snap to Instagram on Thursday, October 26 to honor Pat, now 77.

Maggie was just a toddler, and a youthful Pat could be seen parading his daughter around the game show stage.

She sweetly captioned it: “Happy birthday to my dad! Thanks for leading me through life.”

Fans were extremely moved in the comments section and loved seeing Maggie on the set so long ago- clearly familiar territory for her.

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GOAT!’

One comment read: “Cuteness overload! Happy birthday, Mr. Pat the Wheel of Fortune king!”

Another person penned: “Happy Birthday Pat!! Hope you have a good one”

“Awwwwww. Too cute,” wrote a third as a fourth wrote: “”Happy Birthday to the absolute GOAT of game show hosts!

A fifth wrote: “Still think that u Maggie Sajak should be the next Wheel of Fortune host not u know who.

“I mean just look at u I think u and Vanna White would make a super host and hostess for Wheel of Fortune. Then the guy will say and here’s ur host the great beautiful Maggie Sajak, daughter of former host Pat Sajak.”

‘I’M LEAVING?’

Pat’s 77th birthday episode saw a nod to both his big day – and another nod fans expected to see addressed in the Season 41 premiere in September.

Pat finally acknowledged he’s retiring come June on-stage.

One of Thursdsay’s contestants, Rhachel Royal of Durham, North Carolina, shared that she’s been writing and performing spoken word poetry since she was 14.

She wrote something for the host for his birthday: “I’m taking a chance, but go ahead,” Pat said.

“Ever since I was a child, this has been my wish. Spinning the wheel No. 1 on my bucket list,” Rhachel began.

She continued: “To meet the amazing Pat Sajak, and the beautiful Vanna White, and to represent for my family under these bright studio lights.

“Thank you, Pat, for all you’ve done over these last 41 years. The smiles, the jokes, the laughs, the cheers.

“Congrats on your retirement. We’ll miss you when you’re gone. Just do me one favor before you go and help me bring this money home.”

Pat took a moment and then thanked Rhachel for her kind words.

“Very nice,” he finally said, adding: “I’m leaving? The things you learn!”

Wheel uploaded the moving moment to Instagram: “A poem for Pat (on his birthday!)”

The contestant whom Pat wrestled last season wrote: “Happy birthday Pat, still waiting on that rematch.”

“Leaving?? Say it ain’t so!! Happy birthday,” wrote another.

MAGGIE IN TRAINING?

Pat announced earlier this year that he would be retiring from the longtime gig after the now-airing 41st season.

He tweeted: “Well, the time has come.

“I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.

It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months.

Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!).”

Pat will be replaced by American Idol host and TV personality Ryan Seacrest, 48.

As for Vanna (Pat’s co-host over the past four decades), she could be replaced by Maggie once she retires.

Vanna, 66, recently hinted that Maggie should be her successor once her new contract is up in 2026.

The co-host recently told E! about Maggie: “I think she’s a good replacement if I can’t be there for some reason.

“She’s been around it her whole life, so I think she can fill in for me for sure.”

“She’s precious, she’s beautiful, she’s very good,” Vanna added.

“I think she learned a lot from her father because he’s such a good interviewer.”

She continued: “I think she’s good for our show.”

Maggie is one of two children Pat shares with his second wife Lesly Brown, 58.

They also share a son, Patrick, 32, who is pursuing a career in law.

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Maggie is now head of social media for Wheel of Fortune but Vanna White has backed her as a ‘good replacement’ come 2026Credit: Getty

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On Pat’s birthday episode, Rhachel recited a poem that mentioned the host’s retirementCredit: Wheel of Fortune

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‘I’m leaving?’ Pat said aknowleging his exit for the first time on-stage – ‘The things you learn’Credit: Wheel of Fortune