Stephen A. Smith often presents himself as the untouchable figure in sports media, but that changed when he faced criticism regarding his remarks about Lane Johnson’s abrupt retirement. The Philadelphia Eagles tackle shocked many by announcing his decision to step away just four games into the NFL season.
Johnson, a veteran in the league for 14 years, stated, “Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health.”
On a recent episode of First Take, Smith sparked controversy when he questioned the timing of Johnson’s announcement. He suggested that the Eagles’ poor performance may have played a larger role in Johnson’s decision than personal issues.
“Now he calls it quits. Not before the season. Not in the offseason,” Smith remarked. “Four games into the 2026 season, a guy who has been around forever says, ‘I need to focus on my mental health.’ Am I imagining this?”
He continued, seemingly mocking the situation, saying, “And this brother said, ‘Hey, my life matters. It’s time. I’m gonna call it quits. My mental health. My mental.’ Lord!”
To give credit where it’s due, losing an All-Pro player mid-season can be tough for the Eagles, especially after they traded starting lineman Cam Jurgens earlier that day. It does raise questions about whether the team is shifting into a rebuilding phase, which was part of Smith’s original argument.
However, his comments didn’t resonate well. Co-host Kimberley A. Martin interjected, stating live on air, “I feel like you’re making light of the situation.”
Realizing the backlash, Smith quickly tried to reframe his statement, claiming his comments were directed at the organization, not the player: “I would never make light of mental health issues. I’m making light of the Philadelphia Eagles’ trashy situation right now,” he insisted.
Later that afternoon, Smith posted an apology video on X to address the reactions: “I’m sorry that when I was on television earlier this morning, on First Take… people misconstrued me minimizing mental health,” he explained.
Despite his confidence in being unfazed by public opinion, the swift backlash seemed to unsettle him. If a single afternoon’s criticism can rattle him, it could spell trouble for any future aspirations he might have.
