Stephen A. Smith’s Ryan Clark Take Raises Eyebrows in Pittsburgh Coaching Debate
Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to bold takes, but his latest suggestion on First Take turned more than a few heads - especially in Pittsburgh.
During Monday’s show, Smith passionately argued that the Steelers should have interviewed former safety and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark for their head coaching vacancy before landing on veteran coach Mike McCarthy. The moment was vintage Stephen A.: fiery, unexpected, and sure to spark debate.
"I'm not joking about this; I'm dead serious," Smith said. "I believe that Ryan Clark, whom I'm looking at right now, should have been interviewed for the Steelers head coaching job."
Clark, who was sitting across from Smith on set, looked surprised - and maybe a little flattered - but didn’t push back on the idea. In fact, he admitted he would’ve welcomed the opportunity.
Smith’s argument leaned on a recent example from Buffalo, where the Bills reportedly interviewed Philip Rivers for a coaching position after his brief return to the field with the Colts late in the 2025 season. If Rivers could get a look, Smith reasoned, why not Clark - a former Super Bowl champion and longtime Steeler who’s spent the last decade breaking down the game on national television?
It’s a passionate stance, but one that doesn’t quite hold up when you look at the full picture.
Let’s be clear: Ryan Clark is a respected football mind with deep ties to the Steelers organization. He played with heart and intelligence, and since retiring in 2014, he’s carved out a strong second act as an analyst.
He knows the game. He knows Pittsburgh.
He knows the culture.
But coaching at the NFL level - especially as a head coach - is a different beast altogether. Clark’s coaching résumé includes some high school experience, but he has no background at the college or pro level.
That’s not a knock on his football IQ; it’s just the reality of the job. Running an NFL team requires years of experience managing staffs, building game plans, leading locker rooms, and navigating the grind of a 17-game season - and then some.
Mike McCarthy, for all the criticism he’s received in recent years, brings that experience in spades. He’s a Super Bowl-winning coach who’s been in the league trenches for decades. At 62, he may not be the flashiest hire, but he’s a proven commodity - and for a franchise like Pittsburgh, which values stability and tradition, that counts for a lot.
Smith’s frustration with the Steelers’ process isn’t unique. Fans have voiced plenty of concern since the hire was announced.
Some wanted a fresh face. Others hoped for a more innovative offensive mind.
And sure, there were rising assistants like Klint Kubiak, Chris Shula, or Nate Scheelhaase who might have made sense for an interview.
But suggesting Clark should have been in the mix - based solely on his playing days and media presence - feels like a stretch. There’s a big difference between knowing the game and being ready to lead 53 men into battle every Sunday.
That’s not a slight on Clark. If he ever decides to pursue coaching seriously, he has the football mind and leadership skills to climb the ladder.
But head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers? That’s a leap - and one the organization was never realistically going to make.
So yes, Stephen A. got people talking. That’s what he does.
But when it comes to the Steelers’ coaching search, the conversation has to be grounded in more than nostalgia and TV charisma. Pittsburgh made a calculated decision with McCarthy.
Whether it pans out or not, that decision wasn’t made in a vacuum - and it certainly wasn’t made with ESPN’s morning debate table in mind.