ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith was clearly frustrated with the Pittsburgh Steelers after they chose Mike McCarthy as their new head coach. Although McCarthy has a strong track record, Smith was more concerned about who the team didn’t consider for the job.
How Did Stephen A. Smith Question the Steelers Hiring Process?
Smith is well known in the sports community for his often brash and outlandish takes. While fans often react strongly to the things he says, it never holds him back.
He is quite open about his lifelong love of the Black and Gold, claiming to be a Steelers fan since birth. His fandom often adds fuel to the fire of his opinions. That’s exactly what happened on a recent episode of “First Take.”
“I want to state for the record and I’m not joking about this I’m dead serious. I believe that Ryan Clark should’ve been interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching job,” Smith said.
Smith made it clear that he was not joking or exaggerating. He was genuinely concerned about how the Steelers managed their coaching search.
Ryan Clark is well respected in Pittsburgh. As a former Steelers defensive back and Super Bowl champion, he has plenty of experience with the organization. Since retiring, he has become known as a respected football analyst, often talking about leadership, not just the schematic differences with a team.
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Smith wasn’t saying Clark should have been hired on the spot. He just believed Clark’s experience and perspective were worth at least an interview with the Steelers.
The McCarthy Hire Under Scrutiny
The debate picked up after Clark called the McCarthy hire “uninspiring.” Clark admitted that McCarthy has had success and won a Super Bowl, but he wondered if this choice really meant the team was moving in a new direction after almost twenty years with Mike Tomlin.
Clark described McCarthy as more of a temporary solution than a long-term answer. He also noted the huge pressure that comes with taking over for such a respected coach.
“I want to state for the record, and I’m not joking about this, I’m dead serious. I believe that Ryan Clark should’ve been interviewed for the [Pittsburgh Steelers head coaching] job.”
– Stephen A. Smith believes his colleague deserved a call from the Steelers pic.twitter.com/L3znehJ9Cb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 26, 2026
The Steelers are known for their stability, with only three coaches since 1969. Mike McCarthy will be the fourth. Hiring McCarthy follows a pattern of hiring an established coach, but it also makes people wonder if the team is being too careful in a league where new and untested coaches are making an impact.
McCarthy now takes on a tough job in a city that wants to win right away. Still, because of Smith’s comments, the spotlight won’t just be on the new coach. The bigger conversation about opportunity and how teams pick leaders in today’s NFL will likely continue for the Steelers long after this hiring.
The situation also highlights a larger league-wide discussion about how head coaching candidates are identified and evaluated. Former players who transition into media are often viewed through a narrow lens, seen primarily as analysts rather than potential leaders, despite years spent inside locker rooms and meeting rooms.
Smith’s frustration appears rooted in the belief that Clark’s football intelligence and leadership qualities are being overlooked because his post-playing career has taken a nontraditional path.
Ultimately, the Steelers’ coaching decision will be judged by wins and losses.
