Stephen A. Smith is never far from the headlines. Whether it’s an egregious take or simply his presence on seemingly every ESPN show, the longtime host has a penchant for creating a stir.
He did just that on Wednesday morning when he addressed the sudden retirement of longtime Philadelphia Eagles star offensive lineman Lane Johnson. A surprise inactive in Week 4, Johnson abruptly announced his retirement after playing the first three games of the 2026 season citing mental health issues and the decision to focus on his family.
Smith initially downplayed Johnson’s decision and made fun of the Eagles growing list of injuries that he believes led to Johnson’s retirement.
Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
“People misconstrued me minimizing mental health – I would never do that,” he said before mentioning his own mental health battles following the death of his mother in 2017.
He admitted seeking help from a therapist “rescued” him from the depths he didn’t know existed in which he endured for two years.
“I actually sought and endured therapy which rescued me. And to be honest with you, if it wasn’t for that and the existence of my daughters, I don’t even know if I’d be here. That’s how bad I was. If ever there was a time And it’s the only time I’ve ever felt wrong when it came to being on First Take with anybody, especially my former co-host, Max Kellerman,” he said on his show.
“It was for those two years. There were times when I saw nothing but black. Literally times could be 10 seconds, could be 15, 20 seconds where I didn’t even hear him. Because it was pitch black and I saw nothing but darkness. And I was so captured by my own misery, I couldn’t break free. That’s why I ended up going to therapy. So trust me when I tell you, I’m not only sensitive to mental health issues, I’m very aware of it.”
Smith went on to suggest he wasn’t specifically talking about Johnson’s mental health battle, but that the chaotic Eagles season may have driven the star offensive lineman to retirement.
“People thought I was joking about him – I’m looking at the Eagles because of how chaotic it is, he added.
“Ladies and gentleman, facetiously speaking, that kind of stress can take you down,” he said. “That kind of stress could rattle your world. That kind of stress could have you saying, ‘You know what? I don’t need this. I got a long life ahead of me, I don’t have time for this.'”
Smith concluded his comments by congratulating the future Hall of Fame offensive lineman on an illustrious career.
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