In 2024, Arthur Smith‘s experience as a play-caller could help him find new employment.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero said that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be interviewing the former head coach of the Falcons on Sunday to fill the offensive coordinator role. The information was provided by a source. Since then, the team has declared the interview to be over.
Smith was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons for the final three seasons, leading teams captained by players such as Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota, Matt Ryan, and Desmond Ridder to consecutive 7-10 finishes in 2021–2023. The largest problem for Smith’s Falcons was at quarterback, as they struggled as a result of not being able to establish stability under center.
Smith’s accomplishments as offensive coordinator in Tennessee, where he led Ryan Tannehill to the 2019 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, helped him land the position in Atlanta. The Titans underwent a significant improvement under Smith, finishing 12th in total offense in 2019 and tying for second in 2020, which caught the attention of teams looking for a new head coach.
Smith is a logical candidate for Pittsburgh. The seasoned coach would be a perfect leader for the offense of the Steelers, which struggled under former offensive coordinator Matt Canada and only managed to break free from offensive irrelevance when Canada was fired by the team in 2023.
It would be prudent to match quarterback Kenny Pickett with an experienced play-caller, since 2024 is shaping up to be a crucial season for Pickett, who may face competition from Mason Rudolph for the starting role should Pittsburgh decide to keep Rudolph this offseason.
