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Stephen A. Smith continues to branch out beyond sports media, meaning we now have to listen to the 57-year-old ESPN personality share his opinions about things like politics and movies in addition to sports. During a recent interview, for example, Smith claimed that Donald Trump originally ran for President of the United States to get back at NFL owners.
SAS, who was appearing on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, recalled a time when he apparently received a call from then-citizen Donald Trump in 2014, who was attempting to buy the Buffalo Bills following the death of Ralph Wilson.
The Buffalo Bills were ultimately sold to Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula for $1.4 billion in October 2014. Trump, who reportedly offered $1.1 billion for the Bills, was elected as President of the United States in 2016, lost the election in 2020 to Joe Biden, and retook the White House in 2024 in a race against Kamala Harris.
“He called me in 2014. This is a true story. He says, ‘Stephen A’ — [he] had a secretary — ‘Mr. Trump is on the line,’ etcetera. [Trump] gets on the line. He says, ‘Stephen A., I’m trying to buy the Buffalo Bills.’ Price tag was $1.4 billion,” Smith recalled.
“He had about $1.1 billion. I was being told he wasn’t gonna get the team. He said, ‘Stephen A., if these motherf—— get in my way’ — talking about the NFL owners — “these motherf—— get in my way, I’m gonna get them all back. I’m gonna run for president.’ That’s what he said!”
Despite Smith’s claim that Trump’s political career was a way to get back at NFL owners, the 78-year-old certainly seems to be buddy-buddy with a majority of them, as more than ten NFL owners contributed around $25m to Trump’s 2024 Presidential election campaign.
NFL owners such as Rob Walton (Broncos), David Tepper (Panthers), Woody Johnson (Jets), Jimmy Haslam (Browns), Edward Glazer (Buccaneers), Mike Bidwill (Cardinals), Dean Spanos (Chargers), Stephen Ross (Dolphins), Robert Kraft (Patriots), Jerry Jones (Cowboys), and Amy Adams Strunk (Titans) all made donations to Trump’s re-election bid.