Stephen A. Smith has spent decades making a living by delivering criticism at maximum volume. Former NFL running back Marcus “Doc” Holliday thinks receiving it can be less comfortable.
Holliday reacted Sunday after the National Association of Black Journalists gave Smith its 2026 “Thumbs Down” award. The organization criticized what it called a recurring pattern of disparaging commentary about prominent Black women, prompting Smith to promise a response.
Doc Holliday Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Response“I see a lot of people have been talking about the National Association of Black Journalists giving a thumbs down to Stephen A. Smith,” Holliday said in a video heposted Sunday.
Holliday said the criticism matched concerns he has voiced about Smith for years, arguing that Smith treats Black public figures more harshly than others.
“That’s the route he chose to take,” Holliday said. “That’s the hill he chooses to stand on.”
Holliday also took issue with Smith’s fiery response to NABJ. Smith called the award “Christmas arriving early” and warned that the organization had started something by publicly criticizing him.
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“But I do know he didn’t have that same energy when Donald Trump basically called him low IQ and don’t know much,” Holliday said.
There is an important wrinkle to that comparison. Smith didrespond forcefully after Trump questioned his intelligence in June. During “First Take,” Smith said he would put his IQ against Trump’s and challenged the president to debate him.
Trump later escalated the exchange, calling Smith a “low IQ individual” and “dumb as a rock” on Truth Social.
Holliday’s larger point was not limited to that feud. He argued that Smith’s style has helped normalize sports journalism built around debate and conflict.
NABJ Criticism Sparks Stephen A. Smith BacklashNABJ presented the award Saturday during its annual convention in Atlanta. The organization said Smith’s commentary about Black women across sports, politics and media conflicted with its standards for fair and responsible representation.
Smithresponded quickly.
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“This is the epitome of Christmas arriving early,” Smith wrote, adding that NABJ had its turn and that his response was coming.
Holliday, meanwhile, said public criticism should not automatically be treated as unfair simply because Smith disagrees with it. “Open rebuke is better than secret love,” he remarked. “Now, he may accept it, or he may not feel like there’s nothing he’s doing wrong.”
The former St. Louis Rams running back then widened his critique to the style of sports media Smith helped popularize.
“There’s been a lot of junk food journalism,” Holliday said, arguing that young reporters sometimes approach interviews as opportunities to debate their subjects instead of simply asking questions.
Smith has not yet delivered the full response he promised NABJ. Judging by his post, silence is not part of the plan.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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