‘Why are you not here?’ First Take analyst calls out Stephen A. Smith for calling in to show from ‘unknown’ location

FIRST Take analyst and former NFL player Damien Woody was quick to call out Stephen A. Smith after he appeared virtually on the sports debate show Thursday morning.

Smith opened the show with his usual vibrant personality but appeared from a remote unknown location.

ESPN/First Take

ESPN/First Take

“What’s up everybody, did you miss me?” Smith questioned.

“Now I understand Woody you might miss me a little bit, you’re there in New York City.

“You’re wondering where I’m at, you might see the background, you might be a little bit jealous but it’s okay,” Smith said.

Smith joked with Woody that even though he wasn’t in the studio he was always with him.

The 56-year-old First Take analyst continued to gloat to Kimberley A. Martin and Woody that he wasn’t there.

Molly Qerim welcomed viewers and introduced Martin, Woody, and Smith.

Smith then questioned Woody why he was standing at the desk instead of sitting down like Qerim and Martin.

“What you standing up for Damien, why ain’t you sitting down?” Smith asked.

“Well first of all why the hell you not in the studio right now looking at me eye to eye,” Woody fired back.

Smith smirked at the response as Woody continued to talk about his day at ESPN on Thursday morning.

“I might have had one of my all-time great shows on Get Up just now so I’m feeling very juiced, feeling ready, and damn it I don’t feel like sitting down,” Woody said.

The cast discussed a variety of topics on Thursday’s show including if they believed the Pittsburgh Steelers would make the playoffs.

Smith shared his thoughts, saying that he had no reason to believe the team would make the playoffs this coming season.

“The Pittsburgh Steelers once had a standard,” Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith's journey through media

STEPHEN A. Smith is now the face of ESPN and an executive producer on First Take having initially started working for the company back in 2003.

Smith has held various roles with the network, including hosting radio shows, SportsCenter contributions, and appearing on NBA Countdown.

He was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1994 to 2010.

His began as an NBA writer before becoming a general sports columnist.

Before that, Smith worked as a reporter with Winston-Salem Journal, the Greensboro News, and the New York Daily News.

“That standard has dissipated. Collectively, they haven’t lived up to the standard that Mike Tomlin inherited.”

Smith talked about the Steelers’ recent playoff record since head coach Tomlin appeared in two Super Bowls in his first four seasons with the team.

“Since that time, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-8 in playoff games with six one-and-done postseasons,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, it was revealed on Wednesday that First Take will broadcast three special live shows from historically Black universities this upcoming fall.

The show will visit Howard University on September 20, Tennessee State University on October 11, and Clark Atlanta University at Morehouse College on November 8.

First Take will be keeping up with its tradition of visiting HBCUs.

Last year the show broadcasted from Smith’s alma mater Winston-Salem State University back in 2023.

The show also made an appearance at Smith’s co-host Shannon Sharpe’s former college, Savannah State University.