Stephen A. Smith suffered a major slip-of-the-tongue on ESPN’s “First Take” this Tuesday. While praising a breakout performance by a Houston Texans wide receiver, the host accidentally invoked the name of a late conservative leader.
Smith was recapping the Texans’ dominant 30-6 playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He intended to credit Christian Kirk for his eight catches and 144 yards but instead stated, “We saw Charlie Kirk catch eight receptions.”
The mistake was particularly jarring given the tragic events of last year. Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated in September 2025 during a campus debate event.
Smith was corrected by his co-host almost immediately and appeared visibly shaken by the error. “I apologize. Oh my God. Christian Kirk,” Smith said before continuing with the sports analysis.
Christian Kirk’s performance was his finest of the season, providing a much-needed spark for Houston’s offense. Before the playoff explosion, he had not exceeded 64 receiving yards in any regular-season game.
Houston will need Kirk to maintain this momentum as they prepare for the divisional round. The Texans are facing a potential crisis after star wide receiver Nico Collins exited Monday’s game with a concussion.
Collins has been a primary target for quarterback C.J. Stroud throughout the 2025 season. If he cannot pass protocol, Stroud will have to lean heavily on Kirk and Jayden Higgins to keep the season alive.
The No. 5 seed Texans are scheduled to travel to face the No. 2 seed New England Patriots this Sunday. Kickoff is currently set for 3:00 p.m. ET.