Stephen A. Smith's October 7, 2026 apology said he was sorry for a misunderstanding of his First Take comments about Lane Johnson's retirement. NFL reporters and fans said it apologized for how the words were received, not for the words. Johnson, 36, retired from the Philadelphia Eagles on October 6, citing his mental health.
This piece covers how the apology was worded. It does not assess Johnson's decision.
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Lane Johnson on First Take?
Smith tied the timing of Johnson's retirement to the Eagles' struggles on the October 7 edition of First Take, according to Pro Football Network's report that day. Johnson announced on Tuesday, four games into his 14th season, that focusing on his mental health was critical to his decision.
The Eagles were 2-2 after a 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, per the same report. Johnson started the first three games and missed that one for personal reasons.
Smith noted that Johnson did not step away before the season or in the offseason. He then asked whether Johnson had in fact cited his mental health. Co-panelist Kimberley A. Martin told him on air that she felt he was making light of the situation. Later in the show Smith said he was making light of the Eagles' situation, not of Johnson's mental health.
What did Stephen A. Smith's apology video say?
Smith posted a clip from his SiriusXM radio show to X on the afternoon of October 7 with the caption "Sorry for the misunderstanding regarding my comments on First Take this morning," according to Pro Football Network.
In the video, Smith said he was sorry that people had misconstrued his comments as minimizing mental health, and that he would never do that. He returned to the Eagles with what he called a facetious line about the stress around the team. He described his own mental health struggles after his mother died in 2017 and credited therapy and his family. He closed by congratulating Johnson and predicting a Hall of Fame career.
Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie made the same Hall of Fame prediction in a statement on Tuesday, the report added.
How did NFL reporters and fans respond to the apology?
Reporters and fans replied on X within hours that the apology put the problem on the audience, according to Pro Football Network.
- Greg Auman, an NFL reporter for Fox, asked what the misunderstanding was and said Smith had laughed at someone on TV and questioned the validity of someone citing mental health.
- Benjamin Allbright, a Broncos insider at KOA Colorado, wrote that the post was not an apology and shifted the blame to the audience.
- Michael Fabiano wrote that the post was not an apology and said Smith had said what he said.
- ESPN's Jenna Laine, a colleague, asked whether someone who has spoken about his own dark periods would be more careful when speaking on the subject, and said the moment felt hurtful to people who struggle.
- One fan wrote that Smith was not sorry for how he said it, only that people misunderstood him.
What did Stephen A. Smith's apology leave out?
The apology left out the remark itself, the harm it caused and any change in behavior. The table compares the video with four parts a full apology usually names. This table is this site's working view, built from the report's description of the video.
| Part of a full apology | What the video did |
|---|---|
| Name the words that caused harm | Referred to "my comments" and a "misunderstanding" without quoting or repeating them |
| Name who was harmed | Named people who "misconstrued" him, not people hurt by the remark |
| Accept responsibility without conditions | Placed the error in how the audience read the comments and defended the intent |
| State what changes | Offered personal history and congratulations, with no stated change |
What does a full apology name?
A full apology names the specific words, the specific harm and one specific change. This is this site's working view, and it applies to any public figure.
Quote the remark in plain terms. Say it was wrong, and say who it hurt. State what will change, such as how the person will approach the subject on air. Drop the words "misunderstanding" and "misconstrued," because they assign the error to the audience, which is the reading critics gave this video.
Personal history can add context, but it cannot stand in for the admission. Smith's account of his own struggles drew a direct reply from a colleague, not credit. For templates, see the corporate apology guide and the crisis statement template.
Where does this case sit on this site?
This case belongs to the Celebrity PR pillar and touches the Sports PR guide. For corporate cases, see the crisis communications library.
Published October 8, 2026. Drafted with AI assistance. Facts come from Pro Football Network's October 7, 2026 report, which embeds the posts quoted. Not verified: Smith's on-air remarks and the video were checked only through that report, and Johnson's retirement statement only as quoted there. The comparison table is this site's own analysis.