The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their search for a new offensive coordinator on Tuesday by hiring Arthur Smith, who most recently served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. The Steelers wound up only interviewing three candidates for their vacant coaching position, and seemed to quickly settle on Smith after interviewing him just two days before hiring him. The Steelers were the only team Smith had completed an interview with so far, but had they not hired him, he would be an offensive coordinator somewhere else in 2024 according to Ian Rapoport.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers hired former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator.
Steelers' Arthur Smith Had Opportunities Elsewhere
Many Steelers fans wanted the organization to hire someone that stems from the Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, as their disciples are constantly the new, hot names for all coaching vacancies in the NFL. Smith actually was the tight ends coach for the Tennessee Titans when Matt LaFleur was the offensive coordinator (LaFleur worked directly with McVay and Shanahan in Washington as the quarterbacks coach through 2013). Smith has had success as an offensive coordinator as well in Tennessee, just before taking on a role as head coach in Atlanta.
Some fans aren't happy with the hire, but according to Rapoport via The Insiders on NFL Network, Smith was a hot commodity this offseason and he had opportunities in other places around the league.
"I think for Arthur Smith, he had a lot of opportunities. He was going to be an OC somewhere. Culturally, this makes a lot of sense. Look, I think the fact that the Steelers are who they are as an organization, an organization that really does it right, one of the model franchises I would say in the NFL. The fact that Arthur Smith could go there and be a part of that was big."
While in Tennessee as OC, Smith helped the Titans reach the AFC Championship Game in 2019 and clinch the one seed in 2020. The offense was prolific, with Derrick Henry rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2020 and quarterback Ryan Tannehill looking the best he has in his career during those two seasons under Smith.
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Steelers new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith with the Tennessee Titans.
Smith was fired from his head coaching job with the Falcons shortly after the 2023 regular season ended. Some would call his time in Atlanta a failure. However, there are plenty of examples of great coordinators who just aren't cut out to be head coaches. Steelers legendary Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau was a horrific head coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, but wound up being one of the best defensive coordinators in the league with the Steelers.
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Steelers new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith made his name known after a great two year run as the Tennessee Titans play-caller from 2019-2020.
Smith did a tremendous job with the Titans, and hopefully he replicates his success with the Steelers. Following the Smith hiring, there are still eight vacancies at offensive coordinator throughout the NFL. As Rapoport reported, Smith would have landed one of them had the Steelers passed up on him. He had plenty of choices. However, what drew Smith to Pittsburgh was his desire to be a head coach again according to Rapoport.
"Learning from Mike Tomlin, understanding that culture and what he does inside the locker room. Arthur Smith is someone that, yes, he's going to be a good offensive coordinator, wants to be a head coach again. This is a perfect person to work with, learn from, and then get ready for his second opportunity and probably score some points in the process."
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has very famously never had a losing record in his 17 years of coaching in Pittsburgh. He is one of the best and most respected coaches in the NFL. Smith having the desire to be a head coach again makes Pittsburgh a perfect fit for him. He didn't see success in Atlanta as a head coach, as his team went 7-10 in all three seasons he was in charge. This deal is great for all parties involved though. Steelers get an accomplished offensive coordinator to run the offense, and Smith is able to learn under one of the best head coaches in the league.
What do you think about Smith choosing to come to Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!
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