Stephen Anthony Smith was born on October 14, 1967, in the Bronx, New York City. He attended Thomas Edison High School in Queens before briefly enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He later earned a basketball scholarship to Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina, where he played point guard and shooting guard while writing a sports column for the university newspaper. 

Smith launched his print journalism career at the New York Daily News before landing at The Philadelphia Inquirer. He then transitioned to television in 1999, joining CNN/Sports Illustrated as an on-air personality. He was hired by ESPN in 2003, and by 2005, he was hosting Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith on the network. After a brief departure, he returned to the network as a permanent co-host of First Take in 2012.  

Today, Smith is the undisputed face of ESPN, appearing on First Take, SportsCenter, NBA Countdown, and more. In 2025, he signed a five-year, $105 million deal with ESPN and a separate three-year, $36 million contract with SiriusXM, making him one of the highest-paid personalities. In addition to media, he has made notable acting appearances, including a recurring role on ABC’s soap opera General Hospital.