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
"Sorry For The Misunderstanding" Stephen A. Smith Apologizes For Making Fun Of Mental Health - Watch 1
Stephen A. Smith is trying to clear the air after his comments about Lane Johnson’s sudden retirement sparked plenty of backlash Wednesday. The ESPN personality questioned Johnson’s decision to walk away from the Philadelphia Eagles after four games of the 2026 season, particularly the veteran offensive lineman’s decision to cite his mental health as one of the reasons behind the retirement. Smith suggested that Philadelphia’s struggles may have played a role in Johnson deciding to leave the team.
The comments quickly drew criticism from fans and several people around the NFL who felt Smith was making light of something Johnson had openly discussed throughout his career.
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Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; NBA analyst for ESPN,Stephen A. Smith
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; NBA analyst for ESPN,Stephen A. Smith before game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Stephen A. Smith
Smith later addressed the controversy on his YouTube show, saying he was sorry that his comments were misunderstood.
“I’m sorry when I was on television this morning,” Smith said. “People misconstrued me minimizing mental health, hell, I had mental health issues.”
Smith went on to explain that his comments were not intended to dismiss mental health struggles. Instead, he said he was trying to point to the situation surrounding the Eagles and how difficult things have become for the team.
“A dude that has been in the league forever sits back and says I need to focus on my mental health,” Smith had said earlier.
“You walk away because this is a very, very, very bad situation, and it doesn’t look to be getting any better.”
That explanation did little to stop the criticism immediately. Johnson has been open about his own mental health struggles in the past, making the subject particularly sensitive for those who know what he has dealt with throughout his NFL career. Johnson announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 seasons with the Eagles, saying his personal and family priorities had changed and that it was critical for him to focus on his mental health.
One of Johnson’s former teammates, current Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, took aim at Smith on X.
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN personality, radio host and sports analyst, is one of the hosts of First Take. He is pictured before the show's stop at Bethune-Cookman University during its HBCU fall tour on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN personality, radio host and sports analyst, is one of the hosts of First Take. He is pictured before the show’s stop at Bethune-Cookman University during its HBCU fall tour on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
“Be there for us instead of mock us!” Gardner-Johnson wrote while discussing the importance of mental health for NFL players.
J.J. Watt also appeared to address the situation, urging people to be careful before making assumptions about what someone else may be dealing with.
“I’ve seen some people speculating some things and criticizing; I would be very careful,” Stephen A. Smith said.
Sports show host Chase Senior also provided additional context about Johnson’s personal situation while criticizing Smith’s lack of empathy.
“Lane Johnson’s mom has cancer. His dad is also sick,” Senior said.
That context has only added to the criticism surrounding Smith’s original comments. Johnson’s retirement was already a major story around the NFL, considering he was still playing at an extremely high level and had been expected to finish the 2026 season before deciding to step away. He leaves Philadelphia as a two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowler who spent his entire 14-year career with the Eagles.
Smith has now attempted to make clear that he was not trying to attack Johnson for prioritizing his mental health. Whether that explanation changes the way people viewed his original comments remains to be seen.
For now, the controversy has become another part of an emotional week surrounding Johnson’s retirement — one that began with a future Hall of Fame-caliber player deciding that his health, family and life outside of football needed to come first.