Stephen A. Smith tried to make light of Philadelphia Eagles star Lane Johnson retiring during the middle of the 2026 NFL season. It’s not going well for Smith, though. Johnson has been open about his struggles with mental health and he could be dealing with family issues, too.
“You know what, ‘I’m going to call it quits,’” Smith said in a mocking voice, impersonating Johnson. “Now, he calls it quits. Not before the season. Not in the offseason. No, no, no.”
He continued in a mocking tone.
“After being subjected to this, he said, ‘Life is a little bit too short,’” Smith continued, still in a mocking tone. “I need to focus on — what did he say? His mental health? Am I making it up? Did he say that? 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.’ As an offensive tackle, lord, you know it is bad.”
The Eagles are 2-2 on the year.
“This brother said, ‘My life matters,’” Smith said. “It’s time. I’m going to call it quits. My mental health.”
Smith was immediately checked by some of his coworkers, though everyone involved should still be embarrassed.
© Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
ESPN’s “First Take” has producers, and several other people, that work on the show. This was a planned segment. Smith likely knew what he was going to say – and maybe others did, too.
This should never have made it on the air.
“Everyone involved with this show should be embarrassed by this,” podcast host Dan Hanzus shared on X.
Smith has tried to backtrack a bit, but he’s still getting it wrong.
“Let me get a bit serious for a second,” Smith said. “Kimberly brought up making light of the situation. I appreciate the lookout. Thank you very much. Let me be very clear and specific about what I’m saying, I would never make light of mental health issues.”
How about a simple: “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
