Stephen A. Smith Says Charlie Kirk Just Torched the Steelers Before Realizing His Error [WATCH]

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith made an on-air error Tuesday when he mistakenly referred to Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk as Charlie Kirk while discussing an NFL playoff game, prompting an immediate correction during the broadcast.

The moment occurred during a segment analyzing the Texans’ 24-point blowout victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card round.

While breaking down Houston’s offensive performance, Smith attempted to highlight Kirk’s role in the win, citing the wide receiver’s eight receptions for 144 yards. Instead, Smith misspoke.

“We saw Charlie Kirk catch eight receptions for 144 yards,” Smith said during the segment.

ESPN host Shea Peppler Cornette quickly corrected Smith, who immediately acknowledged the mistake on air.

“I’m sorry, I apologize. Oh my God, I meant Christian Kirk,” Smith said.

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Christian Kirk is a wide receiver for the Houston Texans and played a significant role in the playoff victory over Pittsburgh.

Charlie Kirk, by contrast, was a conservative political activist and the founder of Turning Point USA.

Charlie Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10, 2025, after being struck by an assassin’s bullet.

His death drew national attention and widespread reactions across political and media circles.

Following the assassination, Smith publicly condemned those who celebrated or mocked Kirk’s killing and expressed sympathy for his family.

In comments reported by Fox News Digital, Smith addressed the reaction to Kirk’s death in blunt terms.

“I don’t care what his political beliefs were. I don’t care what he felt,” Smith said.

“That he’s dead at the age of 31. That his wife is a widow. That his children are fatherless because his ideas and his beliefs differed from somebody else, apparently. And then I’m going online, and I’m seeing people celebrating it. Shame! Shame on you!”

NEW: Stephen A. Smith *EXCORIATES* “PEOPLE CELEBRATING” Charlie Kirk Assassination

“I don’t care what his political beliefs were! I don’t care what he felt! I care about the fact that a man was gunned down in front of 2 of his children who are 5 years of age or less. That… pic.twitter.com/AccxMnhwBm

— Jason Cohen (@JasonJournoDC) September 11, 2025

Smith’s remarks at the time were part of a broader response from public figures condemning political violence and the reaction to Kirk’s death.

In recent months, Smith has increasingly expanded his focus beyond sports commentary.

He has devoted more airtime on his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” to political and cultural topics, frequently weighing in on national issues alongside his sports analysis.

That expanded focus may have contributed to the verbal mix-up during Tuesday’s broadcast, where Smith appeared to conflate the names of the NFL player and the political activist. Smith did not repeat the error after correcting himself, and the broadcast continued without further interruption.

ESPN did not issue a separate statement regarding the incident, and neither Smith nor the network indicated that any additional clarification was forthcoming.

The Texans’ win over the Steelers advanced Houston in the AFC playoff bracket, with Kirk’s performance standing out as one of the game’s key offensive highlights.

Kirk’s eight catches and 144 receiving yards were among the top statistical performances of the Wild Card round.

The brief on-air error quickly circulated on social media, where clips of the moment were shared shortly after the broadcast.

Smith has not publicly addressed the mistake outside of the immediate correction made during the segment.

Smith has spent decades as one of ESPN’s most prominent on-air personalities and is known for his unscripted commentary across live broadcasts, radio, and podcasts.

While verbal slip-ups are not uncommon in live television, the reference drew attention because of the shared last name and the high-profile nature of Charlie Kirk’s death.

As of Tuesday night, Smith had not revisited the incident publicly, and no disciplinary action or formal response was announced by ESPN.

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