Just days before the AFC Championship matchup between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, ESPN made a shocking decision behind the scenes of NFL media by suspending analyst Stephen A. Smith for two weeks. The move stems from comments deemed seriously inaccurate, insufficiently verified, and which sparked a fierce backlash from the Patriots fan base at the most sensitive point of the season.
The incident erupted on First Take, where Stephen A. Smith praised the Patriots’ defense and referenced DC Terrell Williams as the individual directly coaching, leading, and calling defensive plays throughout the season. The comments quickly spread widely, but were immediately flagged by analysts as factually incorrect, triggering a major wave of controversy.
In reality, Terrell Williams has been away from the team for nearly the entire 2025 season after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in early September and undergoing treatment. Since Week 2, defensive play-calling duties have belonged to linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, who has worked alongside the rest of the coaching staff to build a defense ranked in the top five of the NFL.
Many believe that if ESPN had been closely following the Patriots, the story of Terrell Williams courageously battling illness and Zak Kuhr’s quiet yet crucial role would have become one of the most meaningful human-interest stories of the season. Instead, with only three games remaining in the year, such a fundamental mistake still occurred.
The reaction from Patriots Nation quickly exploded across social media. Many fans argued that Stephen A. Smith’s comments were biased and unprofessional, especially with the team preparing for the most important game of the year. “This isn’t a matter of opinion — it’s a matter of fact, and that’s simply unacceptable,” one Patriots fan wrote.
According to internal sources, ESPN’s decision to suspend Stephen A. Smith was made to reassess content oversight and the responsibility carried by its top on-air analysts. Smith himself is reportedly deeply disappointed and will use this time to reflect on his role, influence, and professional standards.
As the Patriots turn their full attention to the AFC Championship, the situation serves as a clear reminder that in the NFL, accuracy matters not only on the field, but also on television. For ESPN, it is a costly lesson. For Patriots Nation, it is a reaffirmation that the quiet figures behind the scenes are often the true foundation of success.
