Guess who leveled up the annoyance game? Stephen A. Smith’s never been shy about stirring the pot, but now, he’s got a new label to his name—Most Annoying Person in Football Media. Oh yes, you read that right. 

The Spun dropped a tweet of ‘The 64 Most Annoying People in Football Media’, and the outspoken ESPN star snagged the top spot on the list. Smith’s response? A perfect GIF of a grim-faced man at a birthday party with crackers blowing in the wind. Classic Smith, handling the heat with humor!

Now, the timing couldn’t be more ironic. While Smith’s adding a new “feather” to his cap, rumors are swirling that the polarizing host could see his salary balloon to a jaw-dropping $18M next year—a 50% raise from his current earnings. ESPN’s powerhouse has been driving the network’s daytime talk shows for years, and let’s be real, he’s their MVP when it comes to keeping the network relevant in national conversations.

But behind the laughs and the big paychecks, Smith’s gearing up for some serious contract talks next year. While his rumored $18M payday might raise eyebrows, ESPN values him. As the face of First Take for ages, his brash style keeps fans hooked, whether they love or hate him. 

Unlike Jemele Hill and Sage Steele, Smith’s dodged trouble with the bosses. “I’m not irresponsible. But I am my own man,” he told the Los Angeles Times. Smith ain’t afraid to walk the line, even as he navigates the fine balance of working under the Disney/ESPN umbrella. As he’s said before, “I am not a prisoner to the ESPN/Walt Disney family.”

And speaking of new opportunities, the rumor mill’s buzzing about the American TV personality eyeing a move into news. He’s hinted that news outlets have reached out to him, and while sports remains his top priority, Smith isn’t closing the door on future gigs in the news world. “I’m willing to entertain,” he shared, keeping fans guessing about his next career move.

But let’s be real—sports is where Smith thrives. His fiery takes, heated debates, and charisma keep ESPN in the spotlight. Love him or hate him, Stephen A. Smith’s here to stay in the sports media scene.

And while the drama continues, Smith ain’t backing down from criticizing the excessive police actions in Tyreek Hill’s viral traffic stop.

Stephen A. Smith slammed police after Tyreek Hill’s arrest 

Tyreek Hill’s Sunday morning got seriously off-track just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jaguars. The Miami’s star was busted for speeding, but he still geared up to play later that day. 

Entered ESPN’s king of hot takes Stephen A. Smith. He lit up X, calling the Miami police’s handling of the situation—where Hill was face-down and handcuffed over a minor traffic stop—“excessive” and “wrong.” A clip that’s fired Smith up shows an officer striking Hill. This has only cranked up the outrage. Smith made it clear: this story’s far from over and is set to be a major topic on ESPN.

With the national debate on police brutality still hot, Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus called the arrest “heartbreaking” and “mind-boggling.” With Stephen A. Smith’s fierce critique and the footage stirring the pot, Miami police are in for a serious spotlight.

Through all this chaos, Tyreek Hill’s eyes are still on the game. But make no mistake—this saga’s just getting started.