Not long after Arthur Smith landed on the radar of the Steelers for their offensive coordinator vacancy, an agreement has been reached. The ex-Falcons head coach is expected to take over as Pittsburgh’s OC, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smith’s three-year run at the helm of the Falcons came to an end on Black Monday after he posted a third consecutive 7-10 record. An inability to maximize the team’s potential at the offensive skill positions played a key role in that decision, but Smith boosted his stock during his previous time as OC of the Titans.
The recently fired HC will now return to a coordinator posting featuring a run-based attack, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac indicating this is expected to be a three-year deal.
During a press conference yesterday, Steelers owner Art Rooney II confirmed the team would likely have its next OC in place in the near future. He added that a clear profile was in place with respect to what Pittsburgh was targeting, given the plans for the offense. Smith was interviewed on Sunday, and that meeting has now produced an agreement.
As Pelissero notes, Smith was on the radar of other teams (although his Steelers summit was his only known interview). Indeed, it had been recently reported that the 41-year-old was likely to land a coordinator gig during the 2024 hiring cycle despite the underwhelming nature of his Atlanta tenure. The Falcons ranked no better than 15th in scoring under Smith, though the team’s struggles can be traced in large part to a lack of consistent high-end play at the quarterback position.
In Pittsburgh, Smith will enter a situation which is not entirely settled under center. 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett remains in place atop the depth chart for now, but an offseason competition for the starting spot should be expected. Mason Rudolph is a pending free agent, but he could find himself on a new Steelers contract, especially if a path exists for him to claim the full-time No. 1 role. Smith will be tasked with developing Pickett or overseeing a transition to a new passer.
Smith spent 10 years on the Titans’ staff, including a pair of seasons (2019-20) as the team’s offensive coordinator. During that time, a ground-heavy approach yielded a top-four showing in both total and scoring offense in 2020. Smith’s HC stock rose to the level that he landed the Falcons gig, but it has obviously taken a hit over the past three campaigns. This opportunity will allow him to rebuild his value on at least a coordinator level.
Matt Canada entered the 2023 season with signficant pressure, and the Steelers made an all-but unprecedented move in firing him midseason. It has been clear for some time that an outside hire would be made, and Pittsburgh spoke with a pair of external candidates (Panthers OC Thomas Brown and Texans QBs coach Jerrod Johnson) before landing on Smith.
With a running back tandem of Najee Harris (who will likely be in place through at least 2025) and Jaylen Warren, Smith will have the pieces in place to continue the run-heavy approach which yielded success late in the year for Pittsburgh. The impact he makes on the team’s offense will be a key factor in determining the Steelers’ ability to at least replicate their run to a wild-card spot in 2024.
Tomlin’s first season under .500 coming right up!
I think you’re right. Not the hire I would’ve made.
Agreed – he clearly didn’t develop Ridder and Pickett is Andy Dalton at best … and I’d still take Dalton over Pickett.
If Steelers had decent QB play this year , man what a different season.
Draft Steelers RBs high in fantasy.
And watch Najee managed single digit numbers through 5 of the first 7 games again….No thanks – getting burned once was enough.
I needed twice.
Might still need a third strike, actually, so few usable RB’s left.
If you have the depth to stash him for the first half, he’s great. Worked for me in 2022 because the dummies in my league let me get Chubb and Jacobs as well
all I have to say to that is bahahahahaha
This is the part of the Steeler job people don’t talk about. The Rooneys want a certain way to play football. It’s why they fired Ron Erherdt. It’s why they fired Bruce Arians. It’s why they fired Todd Haley.
I am good with this hire. Guy I wanted all along.
Say what you want but he had Tannehill throw what 33 or 34 TDs one year & had 2 Top 10 point seasons with Tennessee with one of them being a Top 5 finish.
No excuses now for Najee
Draft a couple linemen now
I don’t care what he did in Atlanta
The Ridley thing was a mess
They were in cap hell & they had an even worse QB situation than Steelers did
Mariotta quit on them cause he got out played
But he had elite talent in Pitts and Bijan and did nothing with either. He had 2 Lamborghinis in the garage and only rode them up and down the driveway.
He didn’t have a quarterback
Neither do the Steelers
-a Steelers fan
I don’t understand the didn’t use Bijan narrative
He averaged 3-4 carries less than CMC
Also with Pitts I mean it was Ridder majority of the year at QB could subpar QB play be the reason for his production drop.
Pitts best year his rookie year he had Matt Ryan throwing the ball. I don’t find it a surprise that his numbers dropped the next 2 years with Marriota & Ridder throwing the ball.
I am just sayin he had success in the league before Atlanta so I don’t mind the hire.
It may just be me liking a strong running game style offense
Don’t forget to mention in Tennessee he had the best RB in the league. 2020 Tannehill > Pickett. 2020 Henry > Najee & Warren. 2020 AJ Brown > DJ and Pickens combined.
This.Guy.Stinks.
Yeah this is a terrible hire. Not seeing the fit.
Steelers are either arrogant or stubborn thinking they can impose their will on the league running the ball with the current roster. Good defenses have no problem stopping them.
The Rooneys always come back to this as their identity. They want to play this way.
Yes the best RB in the league but also Henry’s 2 best years were with Smith as his OC
The 3 years before Smith he was avg 4-4.5 yds a carry
2 years with him he was over 5 yds a carry and the 3 years since he is at roughly 4 yds a carry
I am just sayin even that he is the premier back in the league his best years were still with Smith calling the plays
Tannehill also won comeback player of the year & easily had his best year with Smith 30 plus TDs
I know Ryan didn’t fit the style he wanted to play
Mariotta got brought in because he knew the system from being in Tennessee but he got beat out by Tannehill
Smith got hired after 2 years as an OC hardly the resume that would definitively say that he called shots to draft Ridder that looks to me like the GM call
It may seem like excuses and I don’t know how it’s gonna work out
I don’t know if Kenny is the man or not yet
But I am intrigued by Smith & am excited for the hire
Hope they draft a Tackle & Center & ILB that could all be starters by years end like Jones, JPJ & Benton were this past year
Mariotta was last year. Ridder was bad this year. This will be 1995 football
Haley was fired because he was bad. Canada bad.
Stop it. He threw the ball too much. Canada’s offenses didn’t crack 400 yards for a calendar year.
Haley was fired for being a jagoff that no one wanted around.
Next up on the “Smith Waste of Talent Merry-Go-Round”: Pickens & Freiermuth
Boy Howdy!!
Tomlin’s yes man. Pickett’s next scape goa and excuse for his inabilities. The perfect hire does exist!
Perhaps the hire should have been actor Will Smith. If the Steelers offense remains a bad joke…Will could give it a slap.
Steelers haven’t had a good OC since Haley’s deal wasn’t renewed. Say what you will about him but he got results. Tomlin since then has just kept the team a shade above average and a shade below really good.
He is to the Steelers what Mike McCarthy was to the Packers. A guy who had success early, won a lot of games, and then hurt the team because they couldn’t move past his stubbornness and lack of coaching ability.
I do have one question. Why is Smith considered to get good results as the OC, but when he’s the HC and completely disappears he isn’t criticized? And then Tomlin, who everyone claims has had a piss poor OC’s takes the blame for all of the lack of success in Pitt…. I just don’t get how most people completely look past 3 years of ineptitude because of 2 years with the best RB of the times…
Edit : I read this wrong – you were praising Haley. I apologize.
I think because when he got to Atlanta they were in cap hell and it took a year to situate that & then
Mariotta has a fit & basically quits on the team
I don’t know but I do know as a OC he had success & Najee has underperformed
His scheme may bring the best out of Najee we will see
I am good with the hire plus it’s reported if he got hired Munchak would be interested in coming back
You keep bringing up Mariotta. He didn’t play for them this year.
He played in Atlanta in 22
We’re in 2024 now. Maybe go on what happened this past year. Mariotta was never supposed to be a starter for long.
Nobody said he was but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he was the QB in 22
Everyone points to Smith’s failures as if he didn’t fight cap hell
Inherited an old washed QB in Matt Ryan
Only QB that somewhat knew his system to bring in year 2 was Mariotta
And year 3 was Ridder & Heineke
I have heard nobody say anything bout him turning Patterson into a legit weapon after years of no production
Turning Tannehill into a solid QB in the 2 yrs he had him
All you hear is well he had Derick Henry
He has a history of getting things out of guys maybe he can turn Pickett around maybe he can’t but we bout to find out & if he don’t they can draft a qb next year
And he’s inheriting another mediocre to bad quarterback in Pickett. I don’t know that Pickett is much better than Ridder or Heineke. Look for Pittsburgh’s offense to continue to put up sub 400 yard games
Mariota hasn’t been a fit for anything outside of a loser team in his whole career. One of his main issues was thinking he could do anything with a bum like Mariota.
He only brought Mariotta to Falcons cause he knew the system
I am expecting him to bring Tannehill to Pittsburgh to back up Kenny & if Kenny is as bad as you all feel he is then he will step in the rest of the year & I expect them to draft a QB next year & Tannehill will be his mentor
Just my opinion
I think his system fits Kenny better than anything Canada had.
The roll outs & bootlegs play action
I think he could still be a good QB but time will tell
It’s funny everyone loves Haley and says how great he was and criticize Smith because he had the best RB in the league in Tennessee
But Haley had a HOF QB arguably the best RB in the game at the time & the best WR in the game at the time all playing behind a line with 3 Pro Bowlers 2 of which you can make an argument could go to the HOF in Pouncey & DeCastro oh yeah and Heath played a few years in Haley’s system
That is far more stacked than anything Smith had to work with in any stop
Haley had an amazing team to work with. But the thing is, is that he did amazing things with what he was given.
Haley’s offense didn’t score a wild amount of points in the playoffs when it counted though. Some loses, like the 2014 loss to Baltimore or 2017 loss to Jacksonville I blame more on the defense giving up the game.
Haley’s regular season metrics standout with the 6th, 8th, 4th, and 1st ranked offenses in football his last 4 years.
Hope he brings a new playbook with him and I also hope he likes propping up Tomlin. When the team wins, Tomlin gets the glory. When they lose, the OC will be blamed because Tomlin can do no wrong in some people’s eyes.
Damn nepo babies keep failing up.
I didn’t enjoy watching what Smith did with the Falcons, but I’m think with a tough coach overseeing him and editing him, he can be a very good coordinator. He oversaw Tannehill’s breakout. He worked great with Vrabel. The biggest question is if he once again has a QB situation with no good answers.
Tomlin is many things, and many of them are good. A tough overseer to offensive coordinators is not one of those good things.
Having said that… I don’t hate this hire or get the fuss about it. It checks a lot of boxes for what they said they wanted, and he’s been very successful.
I think he might get tough if Smith decides to ignore his best pass catchers.
Munchak coming back
Hope so
Lmao get ready for 13 personnel trick plays on the 1 yard line lmao
That would be a huge upgrade over what the Steelers have tried from the goal line for the last 10 years or so.
Lmao we’ll see about that
I love how every one keeps mentioning Haley and his results.
Kind of moronic when he had Ben, Bell, Brown, Heath and and a stacked OL.
And for being such a results guy how did he end up having just one more job in the NFL?
Anyone that fogged a mirror could get results with that offense.
Have to give Smith a chance before passing any judgment. Much better background than Canada and Fichtner and truthfully, the Steelers have never had great O’s in their recent history. Only Arians, Haley and Whisenhut stand out as guys who were innovative. We can go back to the 80’s and remember a great many stiffs who’ve held the position
Point is, he brings a new viewpoint which has been sorely needed here. Troubling to me that he had a similar QB situation in Atlanta that he’s walking into here but we’ll see
Just hoping the Steelers decide to spend some money and make some upgrades. A new OC alone isn’t going to push them into being a serious contender, no matter how hot of a candidate he might be
Falcon fan here. If you like an offensive scheme that is chaos and confusion Art is your guy. If you like your offense to look like they found out who was their opponent is in the tunnel before the game Art is your man. If you like to run and throw to 3rd string players in the red zone Art has you covered. If you like an offense that scores in the first and fourth quarter only and takes the other half of game off Art is on it. If you want your eyeballs to throw up watching your team piddle on O your are in for a real treat. If you like an O where D 100 percent knows the play call Art is the deal. No matter how bad you think he is, he is 100x worse.
I like the hire. And as far as Haley is concerned, Ben (all for himself) Baconburgher hated him. They had the killer bees and Baconburgher sucked. Don’t blame Haley. A center and a tackle and I can see the steelers scoring almost 30 a game
Baconburgher set the franchise back 20 years. He was a selfish jerk. Wouldn’t help Rudolph. Never voted team MVP. SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIS ATTITUDE. And his teammates didn’t like Baconburgher much.
How’s things, AB84?
You keepin outta trouble?
Man Ben must’ve shagged your lady once or something to warrant that hate.
Roethlisberger was a great QB. They’ve missed his play (in his prime) dearly. But by all accounts, he resented the selection of Rudolph much the same way Rodgers did with Love—at least initially—in GB. You’d think aging QB’s would understand why a franchise would look to draft and develop their eventual replacements but the diva factor entailed selfish, childish behavior instead
But while the QB position is extremely important—and count me as someone who doesn’t believe Smith will turn Pickett into the type of QB they need to push them ahead—they’ve never been able to replace a whole host of guys who were tremendous players but also exemplary leaders, as well
There’s no one approaching Hines or the Bus here. There’s no Farrior, or Harrison or Polamalu
Point is, Ben was what he was, but they have team-first players around him
Not only don’t they have a talented QB—yet—other than Watt, Cam, perhaps Highsmith—there’s not a whole lot here in terms of having the twin characteristics: talent and leadership
Don’t know that an OC alone is going to fix things so much. Good draft, some key signings—like Russell Wilson—-and maybe we can talk next level
That falls of Tomlin that there’s no leadership not Ben Roethlisberger…. The dude was paid to play QB, not be everyone’s mentor and father figure.
This post says a lot about your ignorance of football
Russel Wilson is a leader now Al of a sudden ???
The guy who Beastmode says he had to talk through other ppl in order to have a conversation with his QB ???
There is nobody on that Seattle team that has anything positive to say about the guy & you talk about the lack of leadership on the team but you wanna add him to the mix ???
He is not a Pittsburgh guy but even more so his wife is not a Pittsburgh chick
Hate to burst your bubble actually no I don’t but Russel Wilson will not be a Steeler
It’s crazy how all of a sudden the guy who Duck Hodges beat out comes in and he saves the season in what year 5 after multiple years of playing mediocre to bad at best and not only Duck but sorry ass Trubisky got opportunity after opportunity over Mason too
Arthur Smith has a history of getting production from a QB who underperformed so I don’t understand the Kenny hate
I understand he hadn’t played well but he was great in the 4th quarter & he doesn’t turn the ball over
No matter how much ppl think they know how much his physical limitations were as opposed to the scheme & playbook limited him they really don’t
AJ Broen had 1000 yds receiving on 52 catches with Tannehill as his QB Pickens can’t do that with Kenny ????
Regardless to what happened in Atlanta Smith had great success In Tennessee
If Kenny falls on his face & Tomlin has his worst record of his career it leaves us in a position to draft a QB but iff Kenny connects with this OC that’s even better
The conversation should be who the new QB coach is & if the add Passing Coordinator to their title
Kenny stinks. Period. I think it’s wonderful you are a member of his fan club and likely have a lot of Pickett swag, but 23 starts in and it’s clear to all but those who fail to comprehend that the offensive plan these last couple years has been geared toward whatever abilities he does have, and they ain’t many
I’m sure you’ll tell us if Pickett was playing in the Niners’ offensive scheme, he’d be successful, too. The arguments and excuses are tiresome.
There’s no Henry here. There’s no AJ Brown. And once again, you’re going to see defenses loading the box as there is no fear of Pickett’s passing abilities. You saw the difference when Rudolph came in. Do you even watch games, or do you instead continually conjure up cosmic rationales to make your absurd points. Being a fanboy is nice, but do you have to continue to be a condescending, blithering troll on a message board, where yeah, others are going to have dissenting opinions. The fact that you continue to follow up on my opinions makes me wonder if stalking is just your thing
Lastly, your comments about Wilson are laughable to anyone who actually watches the game. Quoting Marshawn isn’t going to lend any validity to your prepubescent babbling and I’m betting Ciara wouldn’t care where her husband plays as long as he’s happy. Denver isn’t exactly Hollywood and they have these wonderful things called planes these days
Wilson is precisely the kind of guy they need—a guy with more than a one or two year track record—and one who they can get incredibly cheap. (Perhaps you missed how he landed in overrated genius Payton’s doghouse to begin with)
But do blather on. We could go to the corner bar and find as much wisdom from the locals, if not more, and without the boorishness from a self proclaimed know it all
I try to get along with everyone here, no matter their opinion, because none of us has the answers and I’ve never used the mute button. But if there is such a thing as a supreme waste of time, it’s you
Chill out clown. Stop bein a keyboard tough guy.
Nothing condescending about me maybe my NYness rubs ppl the wrong way but I never tell anybody they are wrong I just counter what I see with what I believe.
But I do go at you cause I don’t like you. If you wanna talk about condescending read back your posts. Always with what you see is right and anybody else is wrong.
I never said Kenny was the answer so I don’t know where you get that from. What I say is I don’t know if he is the answer. As far as me watching the games I don’t gotta post my resume on a board but I am confident enough in my knowledge of the game to express myself. As a matter of fact I do more than watch the games I review every game in the all 22. That must just be the coach in me that makes me feel like doing it.
I can really break down how bad Canada’s offense really was if you want one day. And it was bad but what made it even worse was his ability to call the plays & that was the biggest difference between Canada calling plays & Sullivan/Faulkner tandem did with Mason. How many back shoulder passes did you see with them as opposed to Canada. One of the lowest percentage passing plays Canada would call like he was a kid hooked on a Madden play.
Again I have no idea what Kenny is but what I do know is as a fan of the Steelers we all should know they not giving up on him anytime soon. So we need to get used to it he is the QB next year until he is not. And again I feel he deserves that opportunity
Not taking sides here but how can you really review a game? Do you get the same game tapes that the team has? I mean if you’re just watching the replay, you’re not seeing if the safeties are rotating over….or if the team disguised the coverage. Mostly the camera during the play only follows the ball and who has it. They may show a replay from a different angle but again, you’re not seeing the whole field at once
The NFL plus app I believe it is has the All 22 coaches film with a lot of different camera angles. It’s the actual tape the coaches use
I am not sure what the cost is I will look it up and let you know
It gives you the game at midnight on the night the game is played whether it’s Sunday, Monday or Thursday
I watch the game live and then one night a week I will watch the All 22 to see and break down the film a bit
You can also watch a quick version of the game or the game as it was live
It really is a great app if you are into that part of the game
I am a bit tied up tonight but I will hit you up with the info of it
Boomer Esiason on his radio show put me onto it they talk about it quite a bit on the show
It’s NFL plus premium when I looked it up it says it’s $9.99 a month but for some reason I feel it was actually more and that was a previous year’s price.
I don’t know why but I wanna say it was $14.95
They have a cheaper plan as well but I don’t know what the exact difference is on what they offer
Keyboard tough guy?
Perhaps a remedial reading course should be on your agenda. There were no threats, no puffing out the chest
After trolling here, you’re going to play the victim? Your childishness after being called out would be remarkable if it wasn’t so disturbingly childish.
I find it hilarious that you choose to say your NY roots are the reason for being a boorish little pr*ck. Maybe you’re new to Pittsburghers. We couldn’t care less
But I do appreciate the admission of being a stalker of mine. How mature of you.
It’s a message board. Opinions. Mine are no better than anyone else’s and no one here has inside knowledge. Unfortunately, your fanboy approach entails a paranoia that brings insults and blather. And when called on it, you revert to the “whoa is me” defense like a spoiled 5 year old
Like I said, you’re a supreme waste of time
There is absolutely no victim in me funny guy
That’s all you have ever done towards me is puff out your chest like your football knowledge is so high & mighty better than mine which I really do find hilarious considering my success in the game
In the beginning all I ever did was try to create dialogue with you
You never had any problem ever telling me why I was wrong about any of my takes so I just return the favor on your opinions that I don’t agree with
Especially the really bad ones that any Steeler fan would know is just a pipe dream
Like Russel Wilson & Kirk Cousins coming here it’s a waste of conversation It’s never gonna happen
There is nothing victim about me I find you extremely comical and no I am not new to Pittsburgh like I said I am from NY
Only time I am in Pittsburgh is to see a game twice a year
Victim lol there is nothing threatening about you
Your a know it all clown that lives in a fantasy land
Pathetic. The post before you call me a “keyboard tough guy”. Here, you say there is “nothing threatening about you”
I’m still trying to figure out where I made threats, acted superior or puffed out my chest.
Yeah, you made conversation. You just didn’t like the pushback. Unlike most here who grow tired of your missives, I’ve always been happy to be your “Huckleberry” here. My football knowledge is confined to my seat. Like everyone else here. No greater or lesser than anyone
But play the victim. Portray yourself as being impinged upon or mischaracterized. All anyone need do is read your missives.
I seem to remember San Diego moving on from a 1st round QB because the fit wasn’t right and he had a decent career later. Some guy named Brees. If this is the right OC maybe the QB talk will die down some, at least until there’s no question.
Why is it that when someone doesn’t like someone’s comment, they attack them. Like you know who.
Someone commented earlier on my post about my wife. Why can’t everyone just agree to disagree.
I think Pickett or Rudolph’s will be fine. New oc. Give it a chance for one year. Doesn’t work then they can see about a qb. But to bring in a veteran is dumb. Sign Rudolph and you have your veteran.