Sports media personality Stephen A. Smith says his relationship with fellow ESPN colleague Pat McAfee remains strong, once again dismissing rumors that the two have an ongoing feud.
Smith addressed the speculation during an appearance on the program In Depth with Graham Bensinger, where he was asked directly about reports suggesting tensions between the two prominent on-air personalities.
“We had a difference of opinion about something,” Smith said. “He thought I did something that I didn’t do. Somebody else had done it. So, once that stuff was clarified, we were absolutely fine, and we’ve been fine.”
Reports of a disagreement between Smith and McAfee first surfaced in March 2025 after the New York Post reported that a private phone conversation between the two had become heated. According to the report, the exchange escalated to the point where McAfee allegedly called Smith a “motherf–ker.”
The dispute was reportedly linked to creative differences surrounding a project Smith was executive producing through his production company, Mr. SAS Productions, which was expected to air on ESPN.
The same report also suggested that Smith had barred McAfee from appearing on the ESPN debate show First Take. Both personalities denied those claims at the time. Shortly after the report emerged, Smith addressed the situation on his podcast and rejected the idea that McAfee had been banned from the show.
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“There is no dispute whatsoever. Pat McAfee is my teammate,” Smith said at the time. “Pat McAfee and I work together on ESPN. There is no banishment from ‘First Take’ or any other show. He is more than welcome to come on ‘First Take’ in the future and I’m gonna be more than welcome to come on his show.”
His latest comments reiterated that the matter had been resolved after the misunderstanding was clarified.
Stephen A. Smith Says Pat McAfee’s Arrival Helped Shape His $100 Million ESPN Deal
During the same interview, Stephen A. Smith also discussed how Pat McAfee’s arrival at ESPN influenced his understanding of his own market value as he negotiated a new contract with the network.
In 2025, ESPN signed Smith to a reported five year contract worth at least $100 million. Smith explained that he evaluated the deal after hiring a team to analyze his viewership numbers and standing within the sports media industry.
Smith explained, “A year ago, I hired a team looking at my numbers, measuring my worth, what the market said, etc. They came to me, and they said, ‘You’re worth this.’ And I looked at the numbers, and I looked at what ESPN had given others. I looked at what SiriusXM had given others, and he gave me an idea of what I was worth.”
Smith said McAfee’s presence at the network played an indirect role in helping him assess that value.
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Smith also credited Disney and ESPN leadership, including Bob Iger, Dana Walden, and Jimmy Pitaro, for helping finalize the deal, which extended his role as one of the network’s leading on-air personalities across television, radio, and digital platforms.
