Stephen A. Smith has learned how to harness and wield the power of the media to his advantage, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean that it’s always beneficial for everyone else.
The latest example is his disrespectful rant about Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson, who announced that he was retiring due to “focus on his mental health.”
“Right now my heart is telling me that it’s time to say goodbye to football,” wrote the 6x Pro Bowler on IG.
While it’s a major loss for the already reeling Eagles, Johnson’s decision is perfectly understandable as football is a highly demanding sport that tests your physical and mental capabilities. So after 14 years, the All-Pro decided it was time to hang up the cleats and everyone accepted it.
Except Stephen A. Smith.
On First Take, the day after Johnson announced his retirement, Smith decided to go off on Lane with a smile and a load of sarcasm.
"Now he calls it quits, not before the season. Not in the offseason…four games into the 2026 season, a dude that has been in the league forever, sits back and says I need to focus on my mental health" – Stephen A. Smith on Lane Johnson retiring https://t.co/itUSL5LrVt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 7, 2026
“He went like this, ‘You know what? I’m going to call it quits,’” said Smith, mocking Johnson. “Now he calls it quits. Not before the season. Not in the offseason. Oh no no no no no. After being subjected to this, he said life is a little bit too short. ‘I need to focus,’ what did he say, on his mental health. Four games into the 2026 season!”
Smith went on to mock him even further.
“And this brother said, ‘Hey. My life matters. It’s time. I’m going to call it quits. My mental health.’”
For someone who’s never played the sport and, as we’ve witnessed, has no real athletic skill, Smith has no problem disrespecting Johnson in order to put on a show.
And that segment further exposed Smith’s entire media strategy.
Say anything to garner ratings/views, issue an apology to garner more ratings/views and repeat.
It’s a tactic Smith has employed ever since he was given a second chance at ESPN. Instead of real analysis and in-depth reporting or even opinion based on fact, which he, as a trained journalist understands, Smith has turned to whatever will generate the most buzz because the eyeballs will follow.
It’s a well-established pattern anyone can see.
Smith is one of the least most knowledgeable boxing commentators, yet he was paired constantly with Teddy Atlas during big boxing matches. Why? Because their loud, boisterous and ridiculous banter, while frustrating for real boxing fans, made for “good TV.”
Despite the horrible job he did during the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joe Horn fight in 2017 and the ridiculous show he put on during the GGG vs. Canelo fight, Smith, and ESPN, seemed not to care whether he offended the boxing community for they were tuned in for the entertainment he and Atlas provided.
But with the entertainment, and sometimes buffoonery (see his segments with Michael Irvin), comes a darker side to his commentary, one in which he says anything to spark reactions and go viral for once that happens, the numbers follow.
Then he heads to his podcast outside of ESPN where he knows everyone will tune in to watch him “humble” himself and ask for forgiveness while his platform benefits from the anger and ridicule he inspired on ESPN.
