NFL fans aren’t exactly pleased with Stephen A. Smith this season.
Smith is undoubtedly one of the hardest-working personalities in all of sports media. For starters, he signed a contract extension with ESPN worth at least $100 million. That deal was made in large part because of his success on “First Take.” Additionally, he has a multi-year partnership with SiriusXM that brings his salary to $40 million per year.
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When ESPN signed Smith to a new deal, it was reported that his role with the network would expand. With that said, he was on this week’s edition of “Monday Night Countdown” to cover an exciting game between the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions.
According to Renee Washington of Front Office Sports, he’ll appear on “Monday Night Countdown” at least three times this season.
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 26: Steven A Smith looks on during the 2024 NBA Draft – Round One on June 26, 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images)Kostas Lymperopoulos/Getty Images
Should Smith be part of ESPN’s NFL coverage?
Bobby Burack of OutKick believes ESPN’s decision to put Smith on “Monday Night Countdown” is a slap in the face to NFL fans.
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“Adding Smith to NFL pregame coverage underscores how disconnected ESPN leadership has become from sports fans,” Burack wrote. “While competing networks rely on Terry Bradshaw, Tony Gonzalez, Matt Ryan, JJ Watt, Rob Gronkowski, and Tony Dungy, ESPN has chosen to put Smith on set with Ryan Clark, a racially obsessed buffoon.”
Burack isn’t the only person who dislikes this new role for Smith. A handful of fans called out the popular ESPN personality on Monday night.
“Stephen A. Smith is not a positive addition to MNF,” one fan said.
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“Nobody asked for this,” a second fan wrote on X.
“Stephen A has ruined the MNF Countdown,” a Ravens fan wrote. “He’s turned this in to First Take. I purposely don’t watch that bullshit because everything is about viral clips and clickbait. Don’t want to listen to it on a pregame show.”
ESPN has not yet announced when Smith will be back on “Monday Night Countdown.” In the meantime, NFL fans are going to voice their displeasure on social media.
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We’ll see if Smith’s role as an NFL analyst expands despite the public’s opinion of him.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.