Steve Smith Sr. on NFL Network. Steve Smith Sr. is about to become a bigger part of ESPN’s daily NFL lineup, according to Front Office Sports. Smith’s addition would put him alongside a growing group of NFL Network faces ESPN has absorbed since taking over the network on April 1. The former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver has spent his entire post-playing career at NFL Network since retiring after the 2016 season. None of that appears to have altered Smith’s trajectory at ESPN, which is reportedly moving forward with plans to expand his role.