Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Texans head football coach Lovie Smith stands on the field before the Texas Tech-Ole Miss Texas Bowl game, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Former NFL and college football head coach Lovie Smith was in the middle of a bizarre altercation at an Arizona High School Football game last Friday that involved his son, Miles.
Smith, a former NFL Coach of the Year who helped the Bears reach the Super Bowl before stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and Illinois Fighting Illini, had been out of coaching for several years.
However, his son Miles is the head coach of Desert Ridge High School in Gilbert, Arizona, and Lovie recently joined the staff as well.
Following a recent game, Miles Smith allegedly dismissed starting quarterback Gunner Brewer from the team over what he deemed was disrespect toward the head coach. Many of Brewer’s teammates advocated on his behalf, but Miles allegedly told the players that it was his team, and if they didn’t like the decision, they could leave.
Quarterback was removed from the team for “disrespect” of the HC. Several players advocated for the QB in a meeting, and a coach said it was “his team”, and another coach said “if you don’t like it, leave”. So the kids left.
That last part was denied in an open letter to parents. But several people have said it most Definately was said.
Sums it up.
— The Main Event Show (@TMESportsShow) October 10, 2026
And so they did…
Lovie Smith Gets In Heated Altercation Over High School Locker Room Dispute
According to local YouTuber Steven McCollum, several players showed up to a recent game to help boosters set up and show support for their former teammates.
However, the players allege they were forbidden from helping by the coaching staff. One parent then proceeded to take pictures of the inside of the locker room with equipment strewn across the floor.
This seemed to set Lovie Smith off.
Per the reporting from Steven McCollum of the pre game incident between coaching staff and parents from Friday Night … This was Lovie Smith and Head Coach Miles Smith reaction to the parents who were there Friday Night to help setup, and saw the equipment thrown on the locker room floor, and posters removed. Pictures were taken to document what happened, and this happened in the open, by the concession stands.
This was a few hours before the game. I reported the incident happened, and here is the video.
— The Main Event Show (@TMESportsShow) October 13, 2026
The parent was kicked out of the locker room, and Lovie then warned them not to re-enter the locker room. The parent seemed to apologize. But Lovie made it clear that the parent was wrong and explained to a nearby cameraman what happened.
Neither the school’s athletic director nor its school board has commented on the matter.