The Stephen A. Smith empire continues to expand amidst speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run and ongoing contract negotiations with ESPN. In addition to this, Smith is increasingly establishing a prominent presence in political commentary. This trajectory aligns with his vision when he launched The Stephen A. Smith Show and his Straight Shooter Media company. However, throughout his career, Smith believes he has been hindered from fully expressing his talents across various domains.
Now, having transformed First Take into a powerhouse and gained the trust of his Disney executives, Smith is finally free to act. Discussing this newfound freedom on Nightcap with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson this week in New Orleans, he shared feelings of being “neutralized” by management at ESPN and how that doubt continues to fuel his drive. “I was neutralized to some degree by my employers,” Smith stated, listing his past associations from the Philadelphia Inquirer to CNN, FOX Sports, and ESPN.
Smith posits that athletes like Sharpe and Johnson enjoy greater freedom as media personalities compared to traditional journalists. The lived experience athletes possess in the sports realm allows them to express themselves more authentically, as executives seem hesitant to limit their voices. Observing athletes embracing diverse topics piqued Smith’s desire for similar opportunities. ESPN approved his idea for a new show, provided it didn’t conflict with his existing responsibilities at the network. “I said, ‘I don’t want a sports show,’” Smith recalled. “And when I told them [I would cover] pop culture and entertainment and politics, they were like, ‘Go ahead.’ Because nobody thought that I would resonate, because they didn’t know.”
Smith’s recent comments indicate that the future of The Stephen A. Smith Show and his external appearances are among the final matters being discussed as he nears a new contract to continue with ESPN. Given that he has grown the show to over 1 million YouTube subscribers and forged a niche in uncharted territories, it seems unlikely that Smith would back down from hosting. His accomplishments in sports are immense, yet the feeling of being an outsider in politics and pop culture lingers for him.
While it’s true that ESPN restricts talent from publicly discussing political views, Smith has surpassed many in the company by successfully building a platform centered around political discourse. As he weighs a potential run for political office, ESPN must be cautious about the implications of his ambitions. Reports from The Athletic mention that ESPN permits Smith to appear on platforms like Fox News or Bill Maher’s HBO show due to these being outside the traditional scope of his role at the network. Nonetheless, a contract negotiation could give Disney an opportunity to reinforce the limitations of that arrangement as Smith expands his media presence.
If Smith has felt confined by his employers in the past, he has certainly relished the past few years of increased freedom. However, it’s difficult to envision Disney embracing the idea of Smith campaigning for president while providing sports analysis on First Take each morning.
