Emmanuel Acho Cites Suicides in NFL to Call Stephen A. Smith Out Over Insensitive Mental Health Comment

Emmanuel Acho called out Stephen A. Smith for his remarks about Lane Johnson after the Super Bowl winner announced his retirement to take care of his mental health. Acho alluded to NFL players taking their own lives while suffering from severe mental health issues, whether due to injuries or any other reason. Acho believes joking about mental health on live TV is not only insensitive but also an ignorant move by Smith.

Johnson suited up for 14 years on the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line, protecting quarterbacks like Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Carson Wentz, and Jalen Hurts. Johnson played 171 games for the Eagles and won a couple of Lombardi Trophies.

Following the Eagles’ Week 4 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson, 36, retired from the NFL. Johnson wrote in his message via People:

I’ve realized that my personal and family priorities in my life have changed. Right now, it is critical that I focus on my mental health. I owe it to my teammates, coaches, the organization and the fans to have my head and heart 100 percent in the game. And right now my heart is telling me that it’s time to say goodbye to football.

Hours later, Stephen A. on First Take questioned the timing of Johnson’s retirement. Smith argued that Johnson could have retired during the offseason but chose to hang up his boots after back-to-back defeats. He said:

Now, he calls it quits… what did he say? His mental health?

When Kimberly Martin pointed out that Smith may have gone overboard about blaming Johnson’s mental health issues, Smith clarified that he criticized the Eagles organization and not Johnson. Smith later apologized on his SiriusXM show.

However, the damage was already done. Some fans even urged ESPN to fire Smith for his remarks. Retired Eagles LB Emmanuel Acho took shots at the veteran analyst. Acho noted that a stigma remains over men’s mental health because they fear the ridicule and shame that it will bring once they share it with the outside world.

Acho mentioned former Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland and former Vikings WR Rondale Moore taking their lives within the past twenty-four months because they couldn’t open up about their struggles with mental health. Johnson was brave enough to share his, and Smith criticized him on live television. Acho said on Speakeasy:

When they finally make the selfish decision to protect their mind, which you cannot see… It’s not a moment to make light of that. It’s both dangerous, it’s insensitive, and wildly ignorant. Whether Stephen A. Smith has a good heart or not that’s not what I am questioning, I am questioning the action.

.@EmmanuelAcho: "FOUR players in the NFL have died by suicide in the last 12 months… Mental health is not something you can joke about on television, Stephen A. Smith" Acho responds to Stephen A. Smith’s mockery of Lane Johnson’s mental health following his retirement https://t.co/Z4VB9nTe9V

— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) October 8, 2026

Emmanuel Acho makes his stand clear over Stephen A. Smith-Lane Johnson fiasco

Smith has been a vocal advocate of mental health. Back in 2017, when his mother passed away, Smith began seeing “dark” everywhere. He underwent therapy to get some relief.

Acho did not like Smith mocking someone else experiencing similar issues on live television:

I knew somebody was going to have this terrible take about Lane retiring Stephen A., if you know Lane at all, you would know the Eagles record has *NOTHING* to do with his retirement. He’s a 2X SB champ & 1st ballot HOF’er. Implying he retired b/c of losses is unfair & dangerous.

I knew somebody was going to have this terrible take about Lane retiring Stephen A., if you know Lane at all, you would know the Eagles record has *NOTHING* to do with his retirement. He’s a 2X SB champ & 1st ballot HOF’er. Implying he retired b/c of losses is unfair & dangerous

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 7, 2026

Eagles make surprising decision after Lane Johnson’s retirement

Johnson’s retirement wasn’t the only big news from the Eagles camp this week. The Eagles traded two-time Pro Bowler and the center of their 2024 Super Bowl-winning roster, Cam Jurgens, to the Baltimore Ravens.

Cam Jurgens with a heartfelt message saying goodbye to Philly “Philly, What a ride! It’s hard to put into words what these last few years have meant to me. This was the first place I ever called home outside of Nebraska, and from the moment I arrived, this city, this organization and these fans welcomed me and gave me an opportunity l’ll always be grateful for. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, staff and everyone in the Eagles organization who helped me grow both as a player and as a person. And thank you to the fans for the passion, support and energy you brought every single day. There’s truly nothing like playing in Philadelphia. I’m grateful for every memory, every relationship and every moment I got to experience as an Eagle. Thank you for everything.” 📸 Cam Jurgens

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 8, 2026

According to John Clark, the Eagles received a fifth-round draft pick in the 2027 draft and a second-round pick in the 2028 draft.

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