Stephen A. Smith is at it again. This time, he stepped into Steelers territory, threw a hot take grenade, and somehow expected everyone to clap. Spoiler alert: they did not.
The controversy started when Stephen A. said that Ryan Clark deserved the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching job more than Mike McCarthy. Yes, the same Ryan Clark who is known for his analysis, not his play-calling. Stephen A. said the Steelers should have talked to Ryan before hiring Mike McCarthy. And that statement did not land softly.
Fans immediately reacted like a team that just got scored on. Steelers fans don’t like outsiders telling them what to do, especially when those outsiders are loud, opinionated, and very confident. Stephen A. is basically the human version of a microphone. He speaks, he speaks again, and then he speaks some more.
"I want to state for the record, and I'm not joking about this, I'm dead serious. I believe that Ryan Clark should've been interviewed for the [Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching] job."
– Stephen A. Smith believes his colleague deserved a call from the Steelers pic.twitter.com/L3znehJ9Cb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 26, 2026
‘I’m very upset, going back to the Pittsburgh Steelers, because I want to state for the record – and I’m not joking about this, I’m dead serious – I believe that Ryan Clark should have been interviewed for the job,’ Smith said on the show.
As Clark said ‘I wish I would’ve’ interviewed for the position, Smith continued his ramble.
‘I believe that Ryan Clark, who I’m looking at right now, should’ve been interviewed for the job. Philip Rivers got interviewed by the Buffalo Bills, I’m just saying. You’re the Pittsburgh Steelers, what’s up?
‘I know they love RC, I know they know he’s a Steeler for life. I know they pick up the phone and call him and defer to him and ask his advice… how come you can’t interview the brother? You gon’ sit up there and bring Mike McCarthy back at 62-years-old.’
Clark laughed and said that they love him ‘from a distance’ before show host Shae Cornette moved on to a new topic.
And this is how fans roasted Stephen A. Smith for his hot take on Mike McCarthy’s new job.
‘This show has gone off the god damn rails man. Have some shame,’ wrote one user on X.
Another said, ‘I wouldnt even interview Ryan Clark to shovel my driveway.’
‘We have to petition for gyms, airports and bars to not show first take. This is absolutely garbage,’ another comment read.
‘It diminishes the sentiment when he has to point out that he’s not joking,’ a different user posted.
The truth is, people don’t hate Ryan Clark. They just hate the idea of a TV analyst getting a coaching job based on vibes. They hate the idea of the Steelers being told who they should hire and they definitely hate the idea of Stephen A. acting like he is the Steelers’ personal advisor.
In the end, the Steelers hired Mike McCarthy and Stephen A. Smith got roasted again. It’s a classic scenario. A loud opinion meets a passionate fan base and the internet does what it does best.
