Stephen A. Smith went viral this week after mixing up the name of an NFL player during a live broadcast of First Take.

The moment happened as Smith, 58, was discussing the Houston Texans’ recent performance and highlighting wide receiver Christian Kirk during the Tuesday, January 13, episode. While recapping the game, Smith mistakenly referred to the player by the wrong name before quickly correcting himself on air.

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

He immediately stopped himself and added, “I’m sorry, I apologize. Oh my God, I meant Christian Kirk.”

The brief slip drew an instant reaction from viewers and quickly circulated across social media, where clips of the exchange were widely shared. The mix-up stood out not only because of Smith’s prominence in sports media, but also because the incorrect name referenced a well-known political figure rather than the Texans receiver he was discussing.

Charlie Kirk was a right-wing political activist who was assassinated during the first stop of his American Comeback Tour in September. He was shot while speaking to a large crowd at Utah Valley University. While he was quickly transported to a local hospital, he later succumbed to his injuries. He was 31 years old.

Christian Kirk, 28, plays wide receiver for the Houston Texans and had a strong showing in the game Smith was analyzing, finishing with eight receptions for 144 yards. Smith corrected the mistake in real time and continued breaking down the matchup without further issue.

Smith has been a fixture at ESPN for years and is known for his fast-paced delivery and live commentary, where on-air corrections are not uncommon. Neither Smith nor ESPN has publicly commented further on the moment.

The clip continues to circulate online, though the broadcast itself moved on quickly after the correction.

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