By admin 
Stephen A. Smith has gone through a wild health transformation in recent years.
The ESPN “First Take” star nearly lost his life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith spoke on the “BT Unleashed” podcast about his health scare. He ended up being in the emergency room with pneumonia. At one point, doctors told Smith to prepare to call his family with bad news.
Read more Chargers Falling Apart: Offense Takes Massive Hit, Loses Star to Injury Late
“I’m sweating bullets,” Smith said. “I get out of bed and it’s like I jumped into a pool with my clothes on, had hallucinations, all of this crazy kind of stuff. I go to the hospital to get treated, and this doctor, Dr. Blount, she looks at me and she says, ‘You see this right here? It’s a white spot and it’s on your lungs, that means you have pneumonia.’ My lungs look like clouds in the sky.”
Smith ultimately recovered, but it wasn’t looking good for a while.
“I literally was like ‘(bleep) it,’” Smith said. “If it’s my time, it’s my time. That’s when my girl just broke down crying because she thought I had just given up, and it was. I was on my way out of here. Three hours later, I don’t know what the hell they gave me. I’m jumping. I feel great. Those three hours were the scariest of my life because I really thought I was on my way up out of here.”
Smith has since changed his life, physically and mentally.
The ESPN star spoke with Front Office Sports Tonight and detailed how he’s gone from being on the brink of death to being “jacked” in his late 50s.
Smith explains how he transformed his life
Smith told FOS Tonight that he reached out to UFC President Dana White, who transformed his body. White went from being unhealthy and out of shape to being jacked with a six-pack.
Read more Yankees’ Bullpen Is About to Get a Major Facelift With Clarke Schmidt’s Return
The ESPN star called up White and asked him how he did it. White said that it was all because of Dr. Gary Brecka.
Smith connected with Brecka, who put him on a strict fitness routine, with cardio four to five times a week, different substances, peptides and more. Smith noticed his stomach going down, his headaches subsiding and more.
“You’re jacked!” FOS Tonight told Smith.
Smith said that his health changes have completely shifted his life. He’s waking up feeling good and excited to go about the day.
View this post on Instagram
It’s always impressive when someone goes through a health transformation, especially someone in their late 50s.
Read more Transfer Rumors: Liverpool Eye $175 Million Wirtz Replacement; Fermin’s Record Barcelona Exit
Well done, Stephen A.
Copyright The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM.