The Pittsburgh Steelers made headlines when they announced that Arthur Smith was going to be joining the organization as the new offensive coordinator. While many may know Smith from his times struggling as the Atlanta Falcons head coach, his story is a lot deeper than that.
Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Arthur Smith coaching Desmond Ridder during a Falcons practice
Smith is also the son of a billionaire and FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith, who's reportedly worth upwards of $5 billion, but he's never let that take away his work ethic.
Steelers’ Arthur Smith Is Built To Coach In Pittsburgh
Almost everywhere Arthur has been, his players, friends, family and colleagues all have nothing but immense praise for who he is as a person and his work ethic. Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed Arthur's good friend from his college football player days at North Carolina. Brian Chacos. Chacos had high praise for Arthur’s opportunity to work in the AFC North for the Steelers.
“Dude, you are built for the AFC North. You're a perfect fit for a city that eats, sleeps and breathes football and loves their Steelers. You are the perfect guy for that job.”
Chacos recalled all sorts of stories about his days of college football with Arthur as his teammate. He talked a lot about how Arthur has never allowed the fact that his father is a billionaire determine how hard he will work to make his own name for himself.
Arthur's brother, Richard Smith, who works as an executive for FedEx, attended every game of Arthur’s when he was an offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. Richard talked about how his brother handled the criticism he faced during his 21-30 three-year tenure as the head coach of the Falcons.
“You’ve got to kind of discount the stuff that’s misguided and remember, at the end of the day, that these people that are making this noise. They're your customers. And they're very passionate customers. I think he shakes that stuff off. I think he takes it in stride.”
Richard believes his brother Arthur uses the criticism from fans and pundits as internal motivation. He doesn’t let it determine who he is and how much he can achieve. While Steelers fans may not be overly excited about Arthur being named the new offensive coordinator, it appears as if they should be thrilled. Arthur is a man on a mission who is determined to use his past failures as motivation to redeem his coaching career.
George Walker IV / Tennessean.com
Arthur Smith as the OC for the Tennessee Titans
Luckily for Arthur, as long as he has the Steelers offense scoring a few touchdowns a game, putting up respectable offensive stats, and winning games, he’s going to be a beloved figure in Pittsburgh, and the fans will grow to love him. His work ethic speaks for itself. In life, some things are out of your control, but your character goes a long way in helping you succeed. Arthur’s character fits the Steeler way more than any offensive coordinator the Steelers have had as of late.
Arthur faces the task of assisting in the development of the Steelers' 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Kenny Pickett. Pickett has showcased his ability to excel in crucial moments during games. However, his statistical performance has failed to impress Steelers fans.
Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press
Pittsburgh Steelers former offensive coordinator Matt Canada and QB Kenny Pickett
The challenge with Pickett lies in deciphering whether his victories were the result of his individual talent, transcending the limitations of his former offensive coordinator, Matt Canada's system, or if the Steelers were successful despite Pickett's contributions.
Upon Canada's dismissal, Steelers fans were afforded a glimpse into Pickett's potential. Unfortunately, this opportunity was cut short as he suffered an injury against the Arizona Cardinals, subsequently losing his starting position for the remainder of the 2023 campaign upon recovery. Much like Arthur, Pickett is on a quest for redemption and aims to prove himself on the football field.
Arthur’s journey to the Steelers as their new offensive coordinator is about much more than his past coaching experiences. His resilience, work ethic, and the support of his family all contribute to his determination to succeed in the Steel City.
As he embarks on this new chapter of his coaching career, Steelers fans have every reason to be excited about the impact he can make on their team. Arthur is poised to prove that setbacks can fuel success, and his character aligns perfectly with the Steelers' tradition of excellence in football.
#SteelerNation
