Stephen A. Smith is known for his outrageous style filled with hot takes and controversial opinions and it’s been one of the reasons he’s been the highest paid employee at ESPN for so long.
Year after year, Smith puts up massive ratings.
But since Pat McAfee joined ESPN in a major deal aimed at targeting the younger demographic, he has grown a large number of both supporters and critics much like Smith — the latter of which apparently includes one of his own bosses at the network.
McAfee has a unique contract at ESPN. He works as a talent for College GameDay and a weekly guest on First Take, but his Pat McAfee Show airs on ESPN through a separate licensing agreement. That has led to some clashes with ESPN management, including most notably Norby Williamson, who McAfee called out publicly over ratings leaks.
McAfee also stood by NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers alluded to Jimmy Kimmel being connected with child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein earlier this year. McAfee’s arrival has been an abrupt departure from the buttoned-up image ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro tried to cultivate since taking over in 2017.
Stephen A. Smith chimed in on the addition of Pat McAfee at ESPN on a recent episode of “Bussin with the Boys” featuring former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan.
“I love Pat McAfee, love him to death. I love his swag; I love the fact that he’s an honest brother. He don’t give a s*** … That’s my kind of dude,” Smith said. “That works for me.”
Stephen A. Smith Says Pat McAfee Doesn’t Have To Be As Polished As Him Because ‘He’s White’
Although it’s clear Smith admires his new colleague, he did point out one area where he believes McAfee gets an edge over the longtime African American ESPN star.
“Now, is he as polished politically as me? Nope, because he has no desire to be number one. And number two, if we’re being honest, he’s white, and I’m Black; he doesn’t have to be. I had to be. So I get all that, and I’m not knocking him for it.”
Maybe that’s a shot at Pat McAfee or ESPN seemingly giving him the freedom to do and say whatever he pleases, but it’s clear Stephen A. Smith believes he has to watch what he says on certain sensitive issues to do his race, while McAfee doesn’t.
At the same time, Smith acknowledged that he could learn from McAfee as a pioneer on YouTube and in digital sports media.
“Pat McAfee is a sensational talent, and it would be stupid of me not to root for him because he’s one of the pioneers in this business,” Smith told Bussin hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. “Just like Bill Simmons is, just like Joe Rogan is and others. What they have done for themselves in the digital stratosphere speaks for itself. I’m new to this. I’m a baby.”
Smith is in the process of building out The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube and has compiled nearly 600,000 subscribers in less than a year. His ESPN contract expires in less than a year, and he reiterated on Bussin that he wants a less exclusive arrangement with the worldwide leader and will explore leaving if he does not get more freedom there.
“Digital is different because I’m a baby. I’m crawling. I’m an infant. I ain’t even learn how to walk yet, let alone run and spring,” Smith said. “But once I get to that point, I’m coming for folks them too. But in the process of that, it will never be for them to fail.”
Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee are the two most prominent faces of ESPN in 2024. And while their public images are different, Smith has nothing but respect for McAfee, but can’t help to point out his colleague has a slight edge when it comes to his skin color.
