Born and raised in the Bronx, Stephen A. Smith’s allegiance to New York teams is not surprising, especially for teams like the New York Yankees (MLB) and the NY Knicks (NBA). But when it comes to the NFL, his loyalties take a surprising turn. The outspoken analyst has never been a fan of the New York Jets, Giants, or even the Buffalo Bills. Smith took a completely different path as a football fan.

The ESPN host has proudly claimed the Pittsburgh Steelers as his team. And while one may question his New York loyalty, Smith has one reason that stands above the rest behind his Steelers’ support: Franco Harris. Years ago, when the Steelers legend passed away, Smith remembered exactly how Harris turned him into a Steelers fan.

“This is the first football player I ever saw, and that’s why I became a Steelers fan,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “Because the Black and Gold when they’re playing against the Oakland Raiders in the divisional play-offs… You saw this ball ricochet off a steel after he got hit and into the arms of Franco Harris, who caught it low and then ran down the left sideline and ultimately won this divisional playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. You just can’t say enough, obviously.”

So, that moment in his childhood hooked Stephen A. Smith for life. He then also remembered the Steel Curtain and all the legendary players who made the Steelers his favorite team. But for him, it all began with one magical play. 

“When you thought about the Steelers, yeah, you thought about the Steel Curtain,” Smith further said. “But it all started with the immaculate reception and when you were a kid, five years old at the time I was, and that was the first football play you ever saw, that’s why I was magnetized by black and gold.”

So yes, Smith says he’s a true Steelers fan. But does he really pledge his allegiance to the Black and Gold?

Is Stephen A. Smith a fake Steelers fan?

A few weeks ago, on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith voiced his concerns about the Steelers facing rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the Cleveland Browns. But former Steelers safety Ryan Clark wasn’t having it. He openly questioned Smith’s loyalty.

“This is what I’ve been talking about. Stephen A. (is) a fake Steeler fan, bruh,” Clark joked, but you could tell he meant it. “I don’t get it. It’s like one of them people that … it’s always a compliment sandwich of, ‘I don’t mean no disrespect, I’m finna disrespect you.’ How people be like: ‘Not to bring up old stuff, but I’m gonna bring up old stuff.’ It’s always that.” 

Ryan Clark compared Smith to people who soften criticism by pretending it’s harmless. According to Clark, the veteran analyst changes his tone depending on how the Steelers play. When they win, Smith shows pride. When they struggle, Smith jumps into criticism mode. Clark argued that real fans ride through the ups and downs, not just the victories. This sparked laughter on set, but Clark stayed firm. 

The former Steelers’ safety also said Smith’s fandom feels like talk – loud, dramatic, and convenient. But honestly, doesn’t every fan base have that one person who claims loyalty but complains the second trouble hits? So, Smith fired back.

He argued that criticism comes from passion. In his opinion, diehard fans have every right to demand excellence and express frustration when the team falls short. He insisted his voice represents what Steelers Nation feels when things go wrong.

The exchange quickly caught the attention of Steelers Nation. Some fans agreed with Ryan Clark and loved seeing someone call out Stephen A. Smith’s mood swings. They praised Clark for defending the franchise’s culture of toughness and loyalty. Other fans pointed out that Clark himself has criticized the team plenty, making his comments feel a bit ironic.

In the end, Stephen A. Smith may love the Steelers in his own loud, emotional, dramatic way. But that’s exactly who he has always been.