Steve Smith Sr., a former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, has stated that he does not consider his NFL analysis to be controversial. Smith, who is now a football analyst for ESPN, believes his takes are rooted in his own observations and convictions.
"I don't think I'm controversial. I just see and say what I see. And I'm not interested in being convinced when I know what it's supposed to look like," Smith said during a recent appearance on OutKick's "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich." He added that while he once was concerned about backlash, he now holds himself accountable for his commentary.
Smith acknowledged that sometimes his critiques can be too blunt. "Today I'm at the place where I really try to work on not being lazy. And this is me. This is my worst. Sometimes if I say a guy sucks, that's me being lazy. Just flat out. I call myself out. That's just being flat," he explained.
He emphasized that while others may disagree with his opinions, they should not discredit his experience or work. "Now what I have been working on that I do care about is I now want to make sure if I am saying something that you disagree, you can have your opinion, but don't discredit 1. my resume, 2. my work and 3. all the other things that I've done to show you that just because you don't like this take doesn't mean that I have no idea what I'm talking about."
During his 16-year NFL career, Smith was known for his on-field intensity and trash talk. He spent 13 seasons with the Panthers and three with the Ravens, accumulating 1,031 receptions for 14,731 yards and 81 touchdowns in 219 games. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time First-team All-Pro.
One notable instance of his commentary occurred in 2023 when he labeled then-Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy as a "JAG," an acronym for "just a guy." Smith, who was an NFL Network analyst at the time, later approached Jeudy to apologize. The interaction reportedly led to Jeudy cursing at Smith, after which Smith reiterated his assessment on air and advised general managers against trading for the player.