Stephen A Smith has said he would consider making a bet with Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin that would see him shave off his hair if the team make the NFC Championship game this season
Broadcaster Stephen A. Smith and Michael Irvin (L-R) meet prior to a game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Stephen A. Smith has been challenged by Michael Irvin to shave off his hair if the Dallas Cowboys make the NFC Championship game(Image: Getty Images)
View Image
Stephen A Smith has said he might be willing to shave off his hair after being challenged to a bet live on-air by Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin.
Having opened up the season with a 'Sunday Night Football' defeat to the New York Giants, Dallas bounced back on Sunday with a win over the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium, in a game that saw Tom Brady swear during FOX's coverage after seeing Jayden Daniels dislocate his elbow again.
The Cowboys' next matchup will see them travel to Brazil for a Sunday afternoon game against the Baltimore Ravens, who lost to the New Orleans Saints in Week Two in a controversial fashion.
Given the star power Dallas boasts on offense in Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, it would not be unthinkable this season that if the Cowboys perform on that side of the ball, and their defense improves, on what was a historically bad 2025 campaign, they could be sleepers to make the NFC Championship game, and possibly the Super Bowl.
After two weeks, there remains uncertainty about the latter of the two, with Dallas set to be tested at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
One individual who is steadfast in his belief in the Cowboys this season is Irvin.
The three-time Super Bowl-winning wide receiver for the Cowboys believes Dallas has the potential to be able to make the NFC title game come the turn of the year, with him wagering live on ESPN that he would shave his hair off if they do not.
Speaking on ESPN's First Take, Irvin challenged Smith to shave his hair off if the Cowboys make the NFC Championship game, with former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky adding he would also shave his head in solidarity with the former if he took the wager.
"Why don't you say if they get to that [NFC] Championship game you're going to cut your hair? See, you believe so much in it not getting done but you won't put nothing on the line for it. I am putting my locks where my mouth is, you just putting your mouth out here," Irvin told Smith.
"If you do it, I'll do it," said Orlovsky. "You'd go bald?" replied Smith.
"You can shave my head if the Cowboys make the NFC title game. They're not making it," quipped Orlovsky. "Come on man! Make it fun."
Smith then added that it would be the biggest fear of his life going bald, but that he would consider taking Irvin up on his bet.
"That would be the biggest fear of my life, going bald with my peanut head," said Smith. "If I had a big square head, I would go bald. But because I got a peanut head with a noggin in the back and a shnoz for a nose, it just would be an awful look for me, that's just my personal opinion. But I'll think about it ... my fear, is going totally bald.
"We gonna shave it all off," added Irvin, with Smith also adding he would consider the bet.