If you’ve spent more than five minutes watching sports television over the last decade, you’ve seen the face. It’s Stephen A. Smith. He’s usually wearing an oversized, slightly ridiculous cowboy hat. He’s holding an unlit cigar. He’s leaning into the camera with a grin so wide it looks painful. And then, he says it. Stephen A Smith how bout them cowboys—the phrase that sends half of Texas into a rage and the other half of the country into fits of laughter.
It’s a ritual. It’s performance art. Honestly, it’s one of the most successful "trolls" in the history of American media. But there is a method to the madness.
Most people think Stephen A. actually hates the Dallas Cowboys players. He doesn't. He’s said it a thousand times: it’s not about Dak Prescott or Micah Parsons. It’s about the fans. Specifically, what he calls the "most nauseating, disgusting fan base in the history of sports."
The Origin of the "How Bout Them Cowboys" Routine
The irony of the catchphrase is that it didn't even start with a hater. It started with a winner.
Back in January 1993, after the Dallas Cowboys crushed the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship, head coach Jimmy Johnson stood on a locker room table. He was pumped. He screamed, "How 'bout them Cowboys!" to a room full of legends like Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. It became the rallying cry for a dynasty.
Fast forward to the modern era of First Take. Stephen A. Smith took that weapon and turned it against them.
He didn't just borrow the phrase; he colonized it. Now, when you hear those four words, you don’t think of Jimmy Johnson’s hairspray or Troy Aikman’s accuracy. You think of Stephen A. cackling after a Week 14 loss to a sub-.500 team.
Why the Cowboy Hat and Cigar?
The props are essential. The hat is usually a black or brown Stetson-style piece that looks just a little too big for his head. It’s intentional. It mocks the "Texas-sized" ego he associates with the Dallas faithful.
Then there’s the cigar. It represents the "celebration" that Cowboys fans start planning in September.
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"They haven't won a playoff game in a generation, but by October, they're already fitted for Super Bowl rings," Smith often rants.
The cigar is the victory lap they never get to take. When he lights it up (or just waves it around), he’s celebrating their inevitable collapse. It’s mean. It’s petty. And for ESPN's ratings, it is absolute gold.
The Science of the "Accident Waiting to Happen"
Stephen A. Smith has a specific philosophy regarding Dallas. He calls them an "accident waiting to happen."
It’s a predictable cycle.
- The Cowboys look dominant in the regular season.
- The national media (including his former partner Skip Bayless) hypes them as Super Bowl favorites.
- The fans start talking about "this year is different."
- A bizarre, heartbreaking loss happens in the Wild Card or Divisional round.
- Stephen A. arrives at the studio on Monday morning in a cowboy hat.
Think about the 2024 playoffs. The Cowboys were the No. 2 seed. They were playing at home against a young Green Bay Packers team. Everyone—and I mean everyone—expected Dallas to finally make an NFC Championship run. Instead, they got blown out 48-32.
The following Monday was a masterpiece. Stephen A. didn't just talk; he sang. He had a produced music video ready. He mocked the "tears of the star." He called out "Shay Shay" (Shannon Sharpe) and demanded the fans admit they fell for it again.
Is it a Character or Real Hatred?
Let's be real: Stephen A. Smith is an entertainer. He’s a journalist by trade, but on First Take, he’s a protagonist.
His "hatred" for the Cowboys is a business decision. Dallas is "America’s Team," which means they have the largest fan base and the largest "hater" base. When he trolls them, he is speaking for the millions of people in New York, Philly, and D.C. who want to see Jerry Jones fail.
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But there is a shred of truth in his annoyance. He’s a guy from Hollis, Queens. He grew up in a world where you earned your stripes. To him, the Cowboys represent unearned arrogance.
He often points out that Dallas hasn’t reached an NFC Championship game since the 1995 season. That’s nearly 30 years.
The Michael Irvin Connection
You can’t talk about Stephen A Smith how bout them cowboys without mentioning "The Playmaker" Michael Irvin.
Their debates are legendary. Irvin, a Cowboys icon with three rings, is the ultimate "homer." He screams. He sweats. He defends the star with his life.
Stephen A. plays the foil. He waits for Irvin to finish his 90-second sermon about "God's Team," and then he simply whispers, "But did they win, Michael?"
It’s the classic "straight man" vs. "funny man" dynamic. Even after Irvin left First Take for a period, the ghost of their arguments haunted the set. When the Cowboys lost to the Vikings 34-26 in late 2025, Stephen A. was right there on YouTube and ESPN, basically doing a digital dance on the Cowboys' grave.
The Stats Behind the Trolling
If you actually look at the numbers, Stephen A. isn't "wrong" about the Cowboys' struggles, even if his delivery is theatrical.
- NFC Championship Drought: The Cowboys haven't been back to the final four since the mid-90s.
- Playoff Record: Since 1996, the Cowboys have a dismal record in the postseason, often losing as the higher seed.
- The "Dak" Factor: Smith frequently points out that while Dak Prescott puts up "empty" stats in the regular season, he often freezes in the big moments.
When Smith says "how bout them cowboys," he's usually highlighting a specific failure. Like the time Dak ran the ball up the middle with no timeouts against the 49ers and couldn't spike it in time. Or the time the defense forgot how to tackle against a rookie-led Packers squad.
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Why We Keep Watching
It's basically a soap opera for men.
We know how the story ends. The Cowboys will win 12 games. Jerry Jones will tell the media he's "all in." They will lose a heartbreaker. And Stephen A. Smith will be there to collect the check.
But we watch because of the way he does it. His vocabulary is insane. He doesn't just say they're bad; he says they are "flagrantly, egregiously, and preposterously underwhelming."
He turns a football game into a moral failing. He makes the fans feel like they are part of a cult. And honestly? It's the most entertaining thing on sports TV.
How to Survive the Trolling as a Cowboys Fan
If you're a Cowboys fan, you probably want to throw your remote at the screen when Stephen A. starts his "how bout them cowboys" bit. Here is how you handle it.
- Accept the Routine: Understand that he is a professional instigator. He is literally paid to make you mad.
- Check the Facts: Usually, his critiques of the front office are actually pretty spot-on. Jerry Jones does talk too much. The team is often poorly disciplined.
- Wait for the Win: The only way to shut him up is to win. Until Dallas makes it to a Super Bowl, he has the ultimate "scoreboard" advantage.
- Laugh With Him: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Even die-hard Dallas fans have to admit that the way they lose is often comical.
Actionable Takeaway for Sports Fans
Next time the Cowboys lose a big game, don't just get mad. Tune into the inevitable Stephen A. Smith rant with a different perspective.
Watch the timing. Notice how he builds the tension. Look at the way he uses the phrase Stephen A Smith how bout them cowboys to transition from a joke into a serious critique of the NFL's most valuable franchise.
It’s a masterclass in branding. He took a phrase owned by the team and made it his own personal victory lap. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to respect the hustle. The Cowboys might never get back to the Super Bowl, but as long as they keep falling short, Stephen A. Smith will have a job—and a hat—waiting for him.
Keep an eye on the standings. If Dallas drops two in a row, get your popcorn ready. The "Cowboy Claus" is coming to town, and he’s bringing a whole lot of shade with him.