Emmanuel Acho is facing backlash from some fans after criticizing Stephen A. Smith over his comments about Lane Johnson's decision to retire while prioritizing his mental health.
Speaking on the "Speakeasy" podcast, Acho argued that mental health should never be treated as a joke, especially after several tragedies involving members of the NFL community. He called Smith out for making light of a sensitive subject and warned that such comments could have serious consequences.
However, Acho's message did not receive universal support. Several fans accused the analyst of hypocrisy, bringing up his past criticism of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other players for showing emotion in difficult moments.
Acho strongly condemned Smith's remarks about Johnson, arguing that mental health should be off-limits when it comes to television entertainment.
"Four players in the NFL fraternity have died by suicide in the last 12 months," Acho said. He then pointed to the deaths of Marshawn Kneeland and Rondale Moore while stressing that mental health should not be used for entertainment.
Acho also described Smith's comments as a serious mistake, arguing that an apology could not undo the potential damage.
However, many fans were quick to bring up Acho's past comments about Williams, questioning whether he had shown the same level of concern when the young quarterback faced criticism for expressing his emotions.
One fan accused him of criticizing Williams for showing emotion in college, writing, "You went after Caleb Williams for getting emotional and crying in his mom's arms in college… you don't care at all about mental health."
However, it should be noted that in this instance, Acho posted : "I have no issue with Caleb Williams crying with his mom post-game. I prefer authentic emotional health over fake toughness. Men are allowed to cry."
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Another brought up Fields, asking , "Weren't you and Shady making fun of Justin Field's mental health last year???"
Others argued that Acho had previously criticized players for showing vulnerability. One commenter questioned his change in tone, saying, "Do you think that we forgot the way you treat Caleb Williams when it comes to his mental health?" The fan also accused Acho of previously labeling players mentally weak on his show.
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Acho's coverage of Williams' injury was another major point of contention. One fan suggested his criticism of Smith felt forced, writing, "This feels a little forced, Acho, when you don't really care."
Another accused him of targeting Williams over his appearance and injury, calling him a hypocrite.
Several fans returned to Williams' emotional reaction to his injury, arguing that Acho had shown little sympathy at the time. One user wrote , "But when Caleb showed emotion on that cart you had no sympathy and [expletive] on him for a whole week just like everyone else."
Others questioned whether Acho's criticism of Smith was genuine, arguing that analysts should apply the same standards to every player rather than defend mental health only in certain situations.
While Acho's message regarding the gravity of mental health in sports resonated in isolation, the consensus across NFL communities was that analysts cannot selectively champion mental health awareness only when it suits their narrative while mocking young athletes for showing genuine emotion under pressure.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
