Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho is a voice for our time, a voice as loud in impact as it is in volume. What do you want to talk about? Social justice, the 3-4 defense, racial equality, what the three-point shot has done to the NBA, society’s present and future, roughing the passer calls? Doesn’t matter.
He will give you his opinion and leave you looking at a subject differently. Acho is a latter-day Renaissance man – equal parts sports commentator, author, activist, athlete, and vehicle for change.
A member of the ensemble cast of FS1’s Speak program, Acho brings a humanistic and sociological bent to sports commentary. His Instagram profile description says it all. “ If I only followed 1, it’d be Jesus. Follow me to be entertained, challenged, and encouraged to change the world.”
There you have it, in 150 characters, Acho touched on religion, entertainment, the struggle, positivity, and hope.
He has nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, but his main follower might just be controversy. The sports world has been a cauldron of racial debate, discussion, action, and conflict since Colin Kaepernick took a knee in 2016. The discourse grew in acrimony and action after the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
Acho has not just been standing around this cauldron, he has taken the lead and stirred the pot with backlash from all sides.
This past January, Acho was a guest on the Higher Learning podcast and, on the surface, seemed to play both sides of the racial discord fence. He said that he understood why black people in the United States believe that white people are racist, but also understood when white people say that racism does not exist.
The latter assertion resulted in much criticism from those who believe in the historic and ongoing mistreatment of African Americans in our nation. From their viewpoint, the heat was valid, but a complete listen to the podcast provides context.
Acho was not denying that racism exists, he was merely pointing out that perspective is crucial in any discussion. What is your story? Where are you coming from in the debate? What have you experienced? These are the important questions that affect any assertion or credo.
NFL linebackers must be unafraid to tackle any and all ball carriers. Acho has never lost this instinct. In fact, he even tackled an entire NFL team. In 2015, Acho suffered a thumb injury while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
He returned to the field days later and eventually reinjured the same thumb requiring surgery. This led to his eventual release and, essentially, the end of his pro career.
In 2018, he filed a workers’ comp claim petition against the Eagles. The often-contemptuous case went to court and Acho was victorious. The Eagles subsequently appealed, and the case eventually went to judicial review. This past February, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court upheld the worker’s comp award to Acho.
Like his writings and voice on racial issues, Acho’s persistence in the case was not merely self-serving.
In writing about the proceedings for Sportico, Attorney Michael McCann stated, “Although every workers’ comp case features different facts and every state features different workers’ comp laws, Acho’s situation is a positive sign for retired players who contend their careers would have continued but for injury.”
So, just who is Emmanuel Acho? The son of Nigerian-born parents, Acho was raised in Dallas and played linebacker at the University of Texas. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2012.
Acho remained a student at Texas while playing for the Browns and Eagles garnering a sports psychology master’s degree. In 2016, he joined ESPN. His book, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, made him a #1 New York Times best-selling author and his same-named podcast on YouTube won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series in 2021.
No analysis of Acho as a commentator would be valid without diving into this book and podcast. Talk about breaking free from the binds and limitations of the label athlete. While the Covid pandemic is still fresh in our minds. Acho labels racism as America’s “greatest ongoing pandemic … not a virus of the body; it is a virus of the mind, and unfortunately, it can be lethal.”
The point of Acho’s tome and podcast lay in the concept of knowledge and recognition. As he states on the book/podcast website, “You cannot fix a problem that you do not know you have.” While there has been much polar opposite debate on the subject, Acho’s take has been both refreshing and reviling, depending on who you are and what you believe.
In truth, however, it is enlightening. He describes the book and podcast as “a safe place to have the uncomfortable conversations about race that many white people have never been able to have.” Acho seeks to use dialogue to break down fear, misinformation, and barriers to communication.
He shines a light on the issue of racism and asserts that with these uncomfortable conversations, “white people do have the power to affect sweeping change, and short circuit racism within their own lives and communities.”
Whew, this is a long way from analyzing the role of the Mike linebacker in defensive scheme, isn’t it? Given his depth and perception, Speak is the perfect television venue for Acho.
The show has established itself as a program that breaks through the fourth wall of television and is unafraid to take on issues outside the field of play. With her wit, directness, and frequent disgust with tired old viewpoints, co-host Joy Taylor sets the tone for the program, but it is Acho who sets the volume.
His rants often veer from the subject matter at hand, as does his life in media. There are times when, as a viewer, I want Acho to just give his opinion on sports with all of his intelligence and flair, but he takes it to another level, another discourse, another arena of discussion.
At times, this is maddening, but I hardly want him to just shut up and talk sports. In many ways, Acho’s rants are vital if not pertinent to sports. Sometimes we need to hear things we don’t necessarily want to hear.
This was the case for panelist Ric Bucher in a recent episode of Speak. Acho tapped into his history as an athlete talking about Chris Paul coming off the bench for the Golden State Warriors.
Bucher said that Paul would work fine as a bench player. Acho vehemently disagreed, saying to Bucher, “The reason (the team and Paul) haven’t talked about it is because this is an uncomfortable conversation that will not go well for anybody.
“I don’t think you’re incorrect in your thought process. I just think you’re ignorant in your thought process.” Acho was respectful in this assertion explaining to Bucher that being in the starting lineup actually means something to a player.
On another recent show, Acho provided commentary on Damian Lillard demanding a trade out of Portland. He didn’t just talk about the demand, he highlighted Lillard’s hypocrisy by showing an Instagram post by Lillard from August 8, 2020, where he mocked Paul George for changing teams and chasing a ring.
Emmanuel Acho looks good, has intelligence extraordinaire, and holds the audience with his enthusiastic voice and piercing eye contact. Moreover, he remains true to his goal of educating as well as entertaining. Bring on the controversy and criticism. Acho remains undaunted, taking his dissertations to any ring of conversation.
John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
