Stephen A. Smith found himself visibly stunned during a heated debate with Shannon Sharpe on Monday’s edition of First Take. The conversation between the fiery sports personality and the NFL Hall of Famer took an unexpected turn as they discussed the future of the Dallas Cowboys.
The debate followed the Cowboys’ 34-26 victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, their first win since October 6. The discussion quickly shifted to the topic of head coach Mike McCarthy and whether his job could be saved following the win.
As the conversation evolved, the hosts brought up the possibility of the legendary Bill Belichick becoming McCarthy’s successor.
Shannon Sharpe and fellow analyst Tedy Bruschi both expressed skepticism about the idea of Belichick joining the Cowboys, suggesting that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be a major obstacle to such a move.
Stephen A. Smith, however, offered a different perspective, arguing that Belichick might actually benefit from working with Jones, particularly when it came to handling the media.
Before Smith could elaborate, Sharpe cut him off, questioning his reasoning. “Stephen A., do you like coming to your job every day and having a headache?” Sharpe asked pointedly. “See, you’re talking about what you think you know. One voice, one sound. When you’re trying to win championships, you need one voice, one sound resonating.”
Smith appeared visibly shocked by Sharpe’s strong words. The discussion took an even more personal turn as Sharpe continued, stating, “And you and I both know, Bill Belichick is a bigger draw than Jerry Jones. That’s why [Jones] has coaches that he can overshadow.”
Smith, taken aback by Sharpe’s comments, pushed back when Sharpe mentioned the Cowboys and championships in the same breath. “Your argument goes right out the window when you mention championships and the Cowboys in the same breath,” Smith shot back, prompting a tense exchange between the two co-hosts.
Sharpe didn’t hold back, seemingly implying that Smith lacked the credibility to argue about football with him. “Now you know more football,” Sharpe said with a tone of clear frustration. “Go ahead, OK.”
“Come on, Shannon,” Smith responded, his voice tinged with exasperation. “I never said I know more football than you. Stop that. Stop that. I’ve never said that.”
Sharpe’s body language conveyed his displeasure, and at one point, it seemed as though he might take off his glasses out of frustration. The tension was palpable, with Tedy Bruschi left speechless as he watched the argument unfold.
The exchange was one of the rare moments on First Take when Sharpe appeared genuinely frustrated with Stephen A. Smith. Despite the heated nature of the argument, neither Sharpe nor Smith has made any public comments about the incident.
The moment stood out not only because of the intensity but also because of the friendship the two share off-camera. Sharpe has been a regular guest on First Take since joining ESPN last year, following his departure from FS1’s Undisputed, where he co-hosted alongside Skip Bayless from 2016 to 2023.
Known for their on-screen chemistry and mutual respect, Sharpe and Smith’s debate on Monday showed that even the closest of colleagues can have moments of genuine disagreement.
Although the debate turned personal, it was a reminder of the passion that both Smith and Sharpe bring to First Take.
Their willingness to challenge each other’s opinions is part of what makes the show so engaging for viewers.
And while the discussion on Monday may have been tense, it was clear that both men remained committed to delivering their unfiltered takes on the Cowboys and the future of the team.
