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20252026NFLWeek 5

Stephen A. Smith Unleashes Disgusting Comments About Lane Johnson “Quitting” 4 Weeks Into Season Because Of “Mental Health” Issues [VIDEO]

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Stephen A. Smith on First Take talking about Lane Johnson
Stephen A. Smith on First Take (Photo via ESPN)

Philadelphia Eagles star Lane Johnson made a huge announcement this week, deciding to retire from football after missing Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson explained that he’s stepping away to focus on his mental health.

That didn’t sit well with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. On Wednesday’s First Take, Smith called out Johnson for walking away just four games into the 2026 season, wondering why he did not make the choice before the season began.

“Now he calls it quits, not before the season. Not in the offseason…four games into the 2026 season, a dude that has been in the league forever, sits back and says I need to focus on my mental health…” Smith said.

Fans immediately fired back at Smith’s comments. While a few people agreed the timing seemed odd, plenty of others thought he crossed the line by questioning someone’s mental health.

Fans Push Back Against Stephen A. Smith

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson (Photo By Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

One fan called out Smith directly and argued that he did not understand mental health struggles.

“Dude, I’m not a hater. But you know nothing about how mental health or mood disorders work. Stay in your lane and yell about other (expletive). I’m sure there are other subjects you can rage-bait about. This one shouldnt be one of them though,” the fan wrote on X.

Another fan also questioned Smith’s comments and asked whether he would react the same way if Johnson had suffered a physical injury.

“Wow. @stephenasmith has some balls on him. Kimberly was right. You’re making light of this situation. You don’t know what he’s going through. If he tore his shoulder and said ‘I’m done’ would that have been ok?” the user wrote.

A third fan defended Johnson’s decision after 14 seasons in the NFL.

“He tried for the sake of the team. But after 14 years he deserves the opportunity to put himself first. He could have played this out week to week but he did the right thing and took a complete step back,” the fan wrote.

Smith did try to clear things up, though, adding, “Let me be very, very clear and specific about what I’m saying, I would never make light of mental health issues.”

However, Johnson leaves behind an incredible run with the Eagles. The six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro played a major role in Philadelphia’s two Super Bowl wins.

He also dealt with several injuries in recent years. One injury kept him from helping the Eagles defend their Super Bowl title during last season’s playoffs.

Walking away now, let’s Johnson finally put himself first. And if he felt like he couldn’t give the team his all anymore, calling it a career might just be the best move for everyone.

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