Watch: Steve Smith rips Jerry Jeudy ahead of 'TNF'

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Former WR Steve Smith rips Broncos' Jerry Jeudy in hilarious takedown

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/12/23

During his 16-year NFL career, former All-Pro wideout Steve Smith was known for telling competitors to "ice up" after victimizing them on Sundays. Nearly a decade after hanging up the cleats, Smith is still leaving players sore.

Ahead of "Thursday Night Football," Smith destroyed Denver Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy, whom he'd been critical of in the past, revealing an unpleasant interaction the two had seconds earlier. After attempting to reconcile with Jeudy, the former Broncos first-round pick didn't respond kindly to Smith, who proceeded to reiterate his previous criticisms of the wideout live on NFL Network.

Steve Smith Sr. just DESTROYED Jerry Jeudy on NFL Network.

Says if any NFL team calls him about trading for him, he'll tell them not to do it.

Steve went off.

(via @nflnetwork, @dillybar2145)pic.twitter.com/FeY4lDvCSo
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 12, 2023

"I'm sorry I said you were a 'JAG' — just a guy who is an average wide receiver that they used a first-round pick on that isn't doing anything," Smith said, via NFL Network. "I hope today that you actually show up in a way that you haven't showed up in the last couple years since they drafted you."

An irritated Smith added one more zinger for good measure before kicking it back to the studio.

"When teams call me asking if they should trade for you, I would say no, don't trade for Jerry Jeudy," Smith said. "Because he is mentally unable to handle constructive criticism — he can be a wide receiver, he's a tier three."

Smith said before the blow-up occurred that he wanted to apologize face-to-face for his previous negative comments. Still, Jeudy repeatedly responded, "Ninja, I don't mess with you," only he didn't say ninja.

No one likes hearing they're doing a poor job, but Jeudy hasn't come close to meeting expectations since the Broncos made him the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Ahead of the 2023 campaign, Jeudy recorded 157 receptions for 2,295 yards and nine touchdowns over 41 games, well off the pace of several WRs drafted after him in the first round, like CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk.

Through five weeks, Jeudy isn't separating himself (17 receptions, 208 yards), but perhaps his run-in with Smith will motivate him the rest of the way.

More must-reads: