Steelers' Danny Smith Teases Major Changes After Honest Talk With NFL Commish Roger Goodell

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Special Teams Coach Danny Smith has had his unit doing extraordinary things on the field. From blocking kicks and punts to returning punts for touchdowns and executing clean punts, Smith's unit has consistently contributed impact plays. His coaching acumen has been crucial, especially amid the recent changes in NFL rules that have required swift adaptation. Smith's skill in training and strategy has kept the Steelers’ special teams operating at a high level, earning him recognition from both fans and players.

This season, the NFL introduced a dynamic kickoff rule, designed to enhance player safety and make the kickoff more exciting. Smith has handled this transition smoothly, using his experience to adjust his strategies without sacrificing the aggressive playstyle that has defined the Steelers' special teams. Managing new formations, practicing timing adjustments, and preparing his players for these changes, Smith has maintained a well-prepared unit that has quickly adapted to this adjustment.

Before Monday's game against the New York Giants in Pittsburgh, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Smith, showing a keen interest in how the Steelers and other teams are handling the new kickoff rules. On Wednesday, Smith shared with the media that his conversation with Goodell left him with the impression that major discussions about the future of the kickoff rule could be coming. 

"I don’t think eight games is a study but it is all the information we have," Smith said. "I think you’ll see things and discussions come up after the season and see where we go."

Smith didn’t dive too deeply into the specifics of his conversation with Goodell before the Steelers' 26-18 victory over the Giants. 

However, he did reveal that the discussion focused on the recent kickoff rule changes and suggested that further conversations on the topic are likely ahead, possibly hinting at additional adjustments to the rule.

"The commissioner was at the game Monday night and he and I had a conversation before the game about that very thing," Smith said. "Not that the conversation was private or secret or anything like that but he mentioned some things to me that leads me to believe that a lot more discussion is gonna happen after this season."

For Smith, integrating younger and new players into a system adapting to a major rule change is no easy task. It's a challenge facing every special teams coach, but Smith has managed it exceptionally well, with his unit firing on all cylinders. 

A dominant special teams unit is like a cheat code in the NFL, and in the 2024 season, the Steelers have that edge under Smith's guidance.

Steelers' Danny Smith Has Led A Dominant Special Teams Unit

Steeler Nation will be eagerly watching for more big plays from Smith's group. Goodell’s conversation with Smith has added intrigue, as fans and analysts only have the first eight games to evaluate the impact of the new kickoff rule—a limited sample size that leaves plenty of questions about what the offseason discussions could bring. For now, Steelers fans are hopeful to see Calvin Austin III, or whoever is fielding kicks, continue to make an impact in the return game.

With the way things are shaping up, the Steelers' special teams could become a key factor as the season progresses. The combination of Smith’s adaptability and his unit’s execution has set a high bar, and Pittsburgh fans have every reason to expect more electrifying moments in the weeks to come.

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