Stephen A. Smith has never been one to downplay his accomplishments. However, on Tuesday’s episode of First Take, the ESPN star took his self-aggrandizing to new heights. His comments, delivered in a comedic tone, came during a segment discussing the narrative surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs entering Super Bowl LIX. The former Philadelphia Inquirer columnist argued that the two-time defending champions aren’t villains; instead, he asserted they are just “annoying” to a notable number of football fans.
“But why are they annoying?” Louis Riddick asked. “They win,” Dan Orlovsky replied. “What else is there? Does Patrick Mahomes get in trouble? Why is he annoying?” Riddick continued.
This is when Stephen A. Smith seized the moment to make one of his boldest analogies yet. “Listen, I would know something about that. I’m considered one of the most annoying people on television,” Smith stated. “Why do you think that is?” As the implication became evident—that, like Mahomes, Smith is a product of his own success—the set erupted in laughter. Host Molly Qerim even performed a literal spit take, sending her drink flying at the moment of the analogy.
“I’ve never done this in my kajillion years on TV,” Qerim exclaimed as Orlovsky helped her clean up the wet spot on the desk. “I spit straight out my mouth, and I apologize to America. Oh my gosh. Stephen A. and I have never gotten along more. That was hilarious.”
Stephen A. Smith comparing himself to Patrick Mahomes because people find both of them annoying due to their greatness resulted in a legitimate spit take from Molly Qerim. pic.twitter.com/HkDFN5vSbt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 4, 2025
As for the substance of his argument, Smith contended that Mahomes and the Chiefs are not “villains” in a traditional sense; rather, their ongoing success has led to the phenomenon of “Chiefs fatigue.” While his comparison of Mahomes to himself was evidently humorous, the 57-year-old made it clear he wasn’t entirely joking. “April marks 13 consecutive years at No. 1, baby. I mean this is what we do,” Smith declared. “Keep on hating because I’m gonna keep on winning.” And if you think Stephen A. Smith is annoying now, just wait until he becomes our President.
