Arthur Smith

Jets To Consider Arthur Smith For HC; Rex Ryan Has Chance At Job?

January 2nd, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

During Robert Saleh‘s final offseason as Jets HC, he attempted a backchannel effort to curb Nathaniel Hackett‘s power by bringing in a veteran play-caller. This stealth mission failed, as the Jets did not have their offensive coordinator position to offer. Aaron Rodgers helped see to that, helping to drive a wedge between the quarterback and Woody Johnson.

Hackett will soon be on the move, as the Jets are looking for a new coaching staff. Arthur Smith was among the coaches Gang Green eyed during Saleh’s search to add a shadow OC this past offseason, and the New York Post’s Brian Costello points to the current Steelers OC being back on the team’s radar — this time as a head coaching candidate.

While Smith was not interested in the Jets’ role in 2024, as the Steelers had an actual OC position to offer, it appears likely he will soon receive an interview request. Smith needing to wait a year before HC interest came was a debated point during this season, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano now notes it looks like the former Falcons leader will be back on the radar for a top job soon.

Smith, 42, went 7-10 in each of his three Falcons seasons. Those campaigns featured different primary QBs (Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder). Considering Mariota is a backup and Ridder changed teams twice during the offseason, Smith’s seven-win 2022 and ’23 seasons may have aged better than expected. The Steelers have also coaxed decent play from Russell Wilson, after they had started strong with the less polished Justin Fields at the controls. While Pittsburgh has lost three straight, it still appears the team’s play-caller will draw interest — even if this would be a rather quick turnaround for a coach who did not post an eight-win season during his first try.

Entrusted to lead the HC search, ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum attempted to set up a meeting between Johnson and Bill Belichick. That did not come to fruition, and the ex-Jets DC-turned-adversary took the North Carolina job rather than take his chances on another NFL carousel. Mike Vrabel is also viewed as potentially the Jets’ top choice, but the Raiders are also interested. And the Patriots may hold greater appeal for the ex-New England linebacker, though that job is not certain to be available. Johnson’s eventful 2024 also stands to make working for him in 2025 a complicated ask, and Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline writes a feeling around the league has created the sense the Jets may need to overpay to land a coveted coaching candidate.

Johnson meddled on many occasions during the 2024 offseason and into the season, and the subject of his teenage sons being involved in personnel decisions and being persistent presences around players continues to be reported. This component will make Johnson’s effort to staff his HC and GM posts rather interesting, but one potential candidate has let it be known this would not dissuade him.

Rex Ryan said he would be interested in coming back. Not exactly shy about expressing strong opinions, Ryan has lobbied for DC jobs recently — interviewing for the Broncos and Cowboys’ positions over the past two offseasons — and worked under Johnson for six seasons. Ryan has not coached in the NFL since the Bills let him go late in the 2016 season. That absence would make a return to a high-profile post somewhat difficult to envision, but Pauline adds many around the league believe the 62-year-old ESPN analyst has a legitimate shot at the gig. He expects to interview.

Thus far, the connections between Ryan and the Jets have come from the former HC. This marks new ground, then, as it would not surprise to see the team at least interview its former coach.

Ryan led the Jets to back-to-back AFC championship games, notching wins over the Peyton Manning-led Colts and Tom Brady-piloted Patriots in the 2010 playoffs. A semi-miraculous Ryan reemergence would lead to the brash leader inheriting a defense high on talent but one that regressed this season, especially after Saleh’s mid-October firing. Of course, the Jets will then need to find a quarterback, as Rodgers is widely expected to be out of the picture soon.

Before a QB plan comes to light, one of the more interesting HC searches in recent years will need to be conducted. It appears Smith and Ryan are set to be part of it.

NFL Coaching Rumors: Jacksonville, Smith, Mayo

December 13th, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The way the season is going in Jacksonville, it’s looking more and more likely that the Jaguars are going to have some new leadership in 2025. The consensus in league circles is that the team is highly likely to move on from head coach Doug Pederson. The question that seems to be trending lately for Jacksonville is whether or not general manager Trent Baalke will be soon to follow.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, there has been increased speculation on whether or not Baalke will be sticking around to choose Pederson’s replacement, should he be fired as expected. Having already been eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-10 record while, at this point, competing for a top draft slot, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Pederson is out, but with Baalke, it’s not as sure a thing.

In an appearance on Herd with Colin Cowherd, FOX Sports’s Jordan Schultz claimed he doesn’t believe Baalke gets fired because he’s entrenched himself with team owner Shahid Khan and chief football strategy officer Tony Khan.

Here are a few other rumors from coaching circles in the NFL:

Arthur Smith‘s recent success jump-starting the career of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson has put him back in the head coaching spotlight. The Steelers offensive coordinator may have to wait a little longer, though. Per Graziano, Smith is more likely to find his way back into head coaching races after the 2025 season than in the upcoming offseason.
Like the Jags, the Patriots are another team already eliminated from the post season and in the running for a top draft slot. That doesn’t appear to mean the same thing for New England’s head coach, though, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Jerod Mayo is only in his first year as Patriots head coach and as an NFL head coach in general. Team owner Robert Kraft was part of the decision to set Mayo up for a coach-in-waiting situation, so it’s hard to imagine that he’s lost the vision on that front this early.

Steelers OC Arthur Smith Not Interested In North Carolina HC Job, Expected To Receive NFL HC Interest

December 1st, 2024 at 7:37am CST by Adam La Rose

North Carolina recently fired head coach Mack Brown, and the school’s process of finding his replacement is underway. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith received a call about the vacant position.

“Reality is [UNC] reached out on [a] preliminary call,” Smith said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I appreciate it, love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.”

Smith spent his college career at UNC as a player (2001-05) and worked as a graduate assistant there to begin his coaching tenure. His experience leading a staff at the NFL level – with the Falcons between 2021 and ’23 – coupled with his connections to the school make him a logical candidate to replace Brown. As Smith noted, however, his focus is not currently on taking whatever head coaching gig presents itself.

“I’ve got an awesome job here,” the 42-year-old added. “[I] probably [have] a different mindset than I had five, four years ago where any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. Now my perspective’s different, and when you got something good like I got here in Pittsburgh right now, family loves it here. I like the working environment, love being a Steeler.”

In a rare move given their organizational history, the Steelers made an in-season offensive coordinator change last year with Matt Canada being dismissed. Smith was brought in as his full-time replacement after drawing interest from the Jets. New York’s offer came with an uncertain role working alongside then-OC Nathaniel Hackett, though, and his preference was to take the Steelers gig. So far, that position has included time with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at quarterback.

Once Wilson recovered from his calf injury, he took over QB1 duties. That move has not led to a major uptick in passing efficiency of red zone success, but Pittsburgh leads the league in time of possession. The team also has the eighth-ranked rushing attack, something which comes as no surprise given Smith’s background and his success in that regard during his Titans OC stint.

Smith’s future beyond the current season is of course in the air given the opportunities which may present themselves to him during the winter. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that Smith is likely to receive consideration for NFL head coaching opportunities during the upcoming cycle as a result of the winning efforts he has been able to coax out of Wilson.

Arthur Smith Was Not Interested In Jets Role

July 18th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this week, a report named Arthur Smith as one of the coaches contacted by the Jets as part of their efforts to add a veteran offensive coach to oversee Nathaniel Hackett. Smith did not end up joining New York’s staff, though, ultimately being hired by the Steelers as their offensive coordinator.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk confirms communication did indeed take place between Smith and the Jets. The 42-year-old was not interested in the opportunity, he adds. Smith’s hesitation to join Robert Saleh‘s staff stemmed in part from uncertainty regarding what his role would be, per Florio.

In the wake of the 2023 season, it was learned Saleh explored moves which would limit Hackett’s authority over the Jets’ offense. A subsequent report confirmed New York looked into hiring a coach who would outrank Hackett and thus serve as de facto OC. Smith was a target in that regard following the end of his Falcons head coaching tenure, but Florio notes his preference was the Pittsburgh offensive coordinator gig.

No other teams met with Smith prior to his Steelers hire, one which will see him return to coordinator duties for the first time since 2020. He guided the Titans’ run-first offense for two seasons, and his success in that regard put him on the head coaching track. Three straight 7-10 campaigns in Atlanta will likely leave Smith waiting for another opportunity in that regard, but in the meantime he will turn his attention to guiding Pittsburgh’s offense – a unit which is expected to rely heavily on the run game.

Scrutiny will remain high, meanwhile, as it pertains to Hackett and the Jets. The 44-year-old had a disastrous head coaching spell in Denver before his New York hire. Aaron Rodgers‘ Week 1 Achilles tear hindered the team’s offense, but improvements on that side of the ball in 2024 will likely be needed for Hackett (along with, potentially, Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas) to remain in place beyond the coming season. Without a supervisor being hired, Hackett will once again have the reins of the Jets’ offense in the absence of Smith – or a staffer of similar experience – overseeing him.

Jets Explored Adding Arthur Smith To Offensive Staff

July 16th, 2024 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets will rely on Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator and play-caller in 2024, but his job security has been a talking point during the offseason. New York sought out a de facto Hackett replacement following his first season at the helm; more details on that front have emerged.

One of the candidates the Jets contacted in their search for a veteran offensive mind was Arthur Smith, Dianna Russini reported on the initial episode of The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast. Smith – who was fired after the conclusion of his third season as head coach of the Falcons – may have had a role in offensive play-calling had New York followed through with a hire. Russini added quarterback Aaron Rodgers was “made aware” of the general efforts on the team’s part to supplement Hackett on the coaching staff.

After a three-year run as a non play-calling OC with Rodgers and the Packers, Hackett received his first head coaching opportunity with the Broncos in 2022. His tenure in the Mile High City lasted less than one year after a disastrous outing in charge of the team. His hire as offensive coordinator of the Jets led to high expectations upon reuniting with Rodgers, but the latter’s Week 1 Achilles tear derailed New York’s season.

The Jets finished near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories in 2023 as the team struggled to find production in the passing game in particular. Hackett – along with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas received a mulligan from ownership, however. Hackett has also received public praise from Rodgers and a vote of confidence that a heathy season under center will produce the desired results on offense in 2024.

Smith’s head coaching stock was generated during his time as OC of the Titans. His Atlanta tenure consisted of three consecutive 7-10 seasons, though, and the team’s offense did not produce as expected. The 42-year-old was hired by the Steelers as their new offensive coordinator, and his experience with ground-heavy attacks could mesh well in Pittsburgh. Considering the extent to which the Jets’ offense will rely on running back Breece Hall in 2024, Smith may have also fit in as a key figure on New York’s staff.

In any event, attention will continue to be focused on Rodgers’ health and Hackett’s play-calling effectiveness as the Jets aim to rebound on offense this season. Questions about the latter’s future could intensify if New York is unable to do so, something which could prompt another search for new voices along the sidelines.

Assessing NFL’s OC Landscape

February 15th, 2024 at 8:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason showed the turnover that can take place at the offensive coordinator position. As a result of several decisions in January and February, the NFL no longer has an OC who has been in his current role for more than two seasons. Various firings and defections now have the 2022 batch of hires stationed as the longest-tenured OCs.

One of the longest-tenured coordinators in NFL history, Pete Carmichael is no longer with the Saints. The team moved on after 15 seasons, a stay that featured part-time play-calling duties. The Browns canned their four-year non-play-calling OC, Alex Van Pelt, while three-year play-callers Arthur Smith and Shane Waldron are relocating this winter. Brian Callahan‘s five-year gig as the Bengals’ non-play-calling OC booked him a top job.

The recent lean toward offense-oriented HCs took a bit of a hit of a hit this offseason, with five of the eight jobs going to defense-oriented leaders. Callahan, Dave Canales and Jim Harbaugh were the only offense-geared candidates hired during this cycle. But half the NFL will go into this season with a new OC. Following the Seahawks’ decision to hire ex-Washington (and, briefly, Alabama) staffer Ryan Grubb, here is how the NFL’s OC landscape looks:

2022 OC hires

Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions*
Mike Kafka, New York Giants*
Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
Adam Stenavich, Green Bay Packers
Press Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Although this sextet now comprises the senior wing of offensive coordinators, this still marks each’s first gig as an NFL OC. Three of the six received HC interest this offseason.

Johnson’s status back in Detroit has been one of the offseason’s top storylines and a development the Commanders have not taken especially well. The two-year Lions OC was viewed as the frontrunner for the Washington job for weeks this offseason, and when team brass did not receive word about Johnson’s intent to stay in Detroit (thus, waiting until at least 2025 to make his long-expected HC move) until a Commanders contingent was en route to Detroit for a second interview, a back-and-forth about what exactly broke down took place. Johnson should be expected to remain a high-end HC candidate next year, but Dan Campbell will still have his services for 2024.

Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ HC job, and the Giants then blocked him from meeting with the NFC West team about its OC position. Rumblings about Kafka and Brian Daboll no longer being on great terms surfaced this year, with the latter yanking away play-calling duties — given to Kafka ahead of the 2022 season — at points in 2023. Taylor may also be on the hot seat with his team. Doug Pederson gave Taylor the call sheet last season, and Trevor Lawrence did not make the leap many expected. After a collapse left the Jaguars out of the playoffs, the team had begun to look into its offensive situation.

2023 OC hires

Jim Bob Cooter, Indianapolis Colts
Nathaniel Hackett, New York Jets*
Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams
Joe Lombardi, Denver Broncos
Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens*
Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs
Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals*
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans*

Only nine of the 15 OCs hired in 2023 are still with their teams. One (Canales) moved up the ladder, while others were shown the door following that organization canning its head coach. The Eagles were the only team who hired an offensive coordinator last year to fire that staffer (Brian Johnson) after one season. Nick Sirianni fired both his coordinators following a wildly disappointing conclusion.

Hackett may also be drifting into deep water, given what transpired last year in New York. Rumblings of Robert Saleh — who is on the hottest seat among HCs — stripping some of his offensive play-caller’s responsibilities surfaced recently. This marks Hackett’s fourth chance to call plays in the NFL; the second-generation staffer did so for the Bills, Jaguars and Broncos prior to coming to New York. After the 2022 Broncos ranked last in scoring, the ’23 Jets ranked 31st in total offense. Hackett’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers has largely kept him in place, but 2024 may represent a last chance for the embattled coach.

Of this crop, Monken and Slowik were the only ones to receive HC interest. Neither emerged as a frontrunner for a position, though Slowik met with the Commanders twice. The Texans then gave their first-time play-caller a raise to stick around for C.J. Stroud‘s second season. Stroud’s remarkable progress figures to keep Slowik on the HC radar. Monken, who is in his third try as an NFL OC (after gigs in Tampa and Cleveland), just helped Lamar Jackson to his second MVP award. The former national championship-winning OC did not stick the landing — as Jackson struggled against the Chiefs — but he fared well on the whole last season.

Schottenheimer is on his fourth go-round as an OC, while Lombardi is on team No. 3. The latter’s job figures to be more secure, being tied to Sean Payton, compared to what is transpiring in Dallas. With the Cowboys having Mike McCarthy as the rare lame-duck HC, his coordinators probably should not get too comfortable.

2024 OC hires

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills*
Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
Ken Dorsey, Cleveland Browns
Luke Getsy, Las Vegas Raiders*
Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks*
Nick Holz, Tennessee Titans
Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders*
Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints*
Brad Idzik, Carolina Panthers
Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles*
Dan Pitcher, Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons*
Greg Roman, Los Angeles Chargers*
Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers*
Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots*
Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears*

The 49ers do not employ a traditional OC; 16 of the 31 teams that do recently made a change. Most of the teams to add OCs this year, however, did so without employing play-calling coaches. This naturally raises the stakes for this year’s batch of hires.

Retreads became rather popular. Dorsey, Getsy, Moore, Van Pelt and Waldron were all OCs elsewhere (Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle) last season. Smith will shift from calling the Falcons’ plays to running the show for the Steelers. Dorsey, Getsy and Van Pelt were fired; Moore and Waldron moved on after the Chargers and Seahawks respectively changed HCs. Moore and Smith will be calling plays for a third team; for Moore, this is three OC jobs in three years.

Coen, Kingsbury and Roman are back after a year away. Kingsbury became a popular name on the OC carousel, having coached Caleb Williams last season. This will be his second crack at an NFL play-calling gig, having been the Cardinals’ conductor throughout his HC tenure. This will be Coen’s first shot at calling plays in the pros; he was Sean McVay‘s non-play-calling assistant in 2022. Likely to become the Chargers’ play-caller, Roman will have a rare fourth chance to call plays in the NFL. He held that responsibility under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco; following Harbaugh’s explosive 2015 49ers split, Roman moved to Buffalo and Baltimore to work under non-offense-oriented leaders.

Grubb, Holz, Idzik, Pitcher and Robinson represent this year’s first-timer contingent. Grubb has, however, called plays at the college level. Robinson is the latest McVay staffer to move into a play-calling post; he was a Rams assistant for five years. A host of teams had Robinson on their OC radar, but Raheem Morris brought his former L.A. coworker to Atlanta. Pitcher appeared in a few searches as well, but the Bengals made the expected move — after extending him last year — to give him Callahan’s old job.

* = denotes play-calling coordinator

Latest On Steelers Coaching Staff

February 10th, 2024 at 12:11pm CST by Ben Levine

With Arthur Smith now in place as offensive coordinator, the Steelers continue to make changes to their offensive staff. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported earlier this week that wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson wouldn’t be back next season. The organization was quick to fill that vacancy, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler later reported that the Steelers were hiring Jets assistant Zach Azzanni for the job.

While Jackson previously worked alongside Smith when the two were in Tennessee, he couldn’t overcome the underwhelming performance from his WRs corps in 2023. Both George Pickens and Diontae Johnson drew criticism for their lackadaisical play, and since the Steelers aren’t completely revamping their offensive staff, it sounds like part of blame has been attributed to the veteran coach.

So, the team will turn to Azzanni to help revamp the receivers room. The 47-year-old coach has had multiple stops as a WRs coach, including stints with the Bears, Broncos, and Jets. During his five years in Denver, he was tasked with the development of Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.

The Steelers have also added former Chargers assistant Tom Arth as their new QB coach, per Dulac. The team has since announced the move. There were reports from earlier this week that Mike Sullivan would be retaining his job as Steelers QBs coach. That didn’t end up coming to fruition, but it sounds like Sullivan is expected to stick around Pittsburgh in a different role. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that the team has also let go of assistant quarterbacks coach David Corley.

Arth was most recently the passing game specialist for Brandon Staley in Los Angeles, where he worked extensively with Justin Herbert for two years. Following a playing career that saw him briefly serve as Peyton Manning‘s backup in Indianapolis, Arth served as the head coach at John Carroll, Chattanooga, and Akron.

Sullivan took on the role of co-offensive coordinator (alongside RBs coach Eddie Faulkner) following the firing of Matt Canada back in November. A former offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers and Giants, Sullivan had served as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach since the 2021 season, guiding the team through the transition from Ben Roethlisberger to Kenny Pickett.

Steelers Hire Arthur Smith As OC

January 30th, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

Steelers, Arthur Smith Discuss OC Job

January 28th, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Arthur Smith‘s name came up about coordinator jobs this week, though no teams were tied to the three-year Falcons HC just yet. At least one is now.

The Steelers will meet with Smith about their OC opening Sunday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. This marks Smith’s first connection to a team since the Falcons began Black Monday — at 12:01am ET — by firing him. Pittsburgh just saw Smith’s most recent employer interfere with its OC search, and Mike Tomlin will soon gauge the veteran play-caller’s fit for his team. The Steelers are preparing to hire an OC from outside the organization; they have only done this once (Todd Haley, 2012) this century.

Zac Robinson received a Steelers OC interview request, but he has instead committed to the Falcons. When Atlanta chose Raheem Morris over Bill Belichick, an immediate connection linked Robinson to following his recent Rams coworker to Georgia. That came to fruition, with the Falcons hiring the popular OC candidate. The Steelers have also interviewed Panthers OC Thomas Brown and Texans QBs coach Jerrod Johnson.

While Smith’s stock has dropped since he moved to the hot seat in Atlanta, it is not long ago he was an in-demand HC candidate. Essentially the 2021 coaching carousel’s Ben Johnson equivalent, Smith chose the Falcons. He was unable to turn the team around, but even as Atlanta conducted a rebuild effort, Smith immediately had the team at 7-10 in back-to-back seasons despite dead money piling up. The 7-10 mark the Falcons posted in 2023 looked a bit different, considering what they had invested in the team by this point. Two ugly losses — to the Bears and Saints — prompted the Falcons to fire Smith.

Smith, 41, has worked as an NFL play-caller for the past five seasons. His two-year run as Titans OC, replacing Matt LaFleur, commanded extensive interest. The Titans journeyed to the 2019 AFC championship game, re-routing their season after a 2-4 start. Smith was given appropriate credit for reviving Ryan Tannehill‘s career. Tannehill’s 9.6 yards per attempt that season remains tied for eighth all time; only Kurt Warner has bettered that mark in a season since the 1950s. Smith also unleashed Derrick Henry, with both of the bulldozing running back’s rushing titles coming during Smith’s Tennessee play-calling tenure.

The Falcons boasted the NFL’s No. 3-ranked rushing offense in 2022, largely under Marcus Mariota, but struggled consistently to pass during Mariota and Desmond Ridder‘s seasons as the primary quarterback. The Falcons ranked 26th in scoring offense this season. Considering the Steelers are again centering an offseason around Kenny Pickett development, Smith’s recent past with QBs is notable. Given Smith’s experience, however, it would surprise if he did not receive a second chance as a coordinator.

Coaching Notes: Callahan, Browns, Vrabel, Seahawks, Smith, Johnson, Texans, Jets

January 24th, 2024 at 5:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans ended Brian Callahan‘s five-year stay as a non-play-calling Bengals OC, hiring the veteran assistant as their Mike Vrabel successor. Although Callahan has never been his team’s primary play-caller, he will not give his first Tennessee OC that responsibility. Callahan will call Titans offensive plays, veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky notes. Callahan has spent five years learning from Bengals HC/play-caller Zac Taylor. He also worked under Jon Gruden in 2018 and Gary Kubiak in 2015. Not calling plays in Cincinnati undoubtedly held Callahan back, considering the success the Bengals’ offense generated during Joe Burrow‘s early years.

During a busy day on the coaching carousel, here is the latest from around the league:

Duce Staley will land on his feet. The recently dismissed Panthers running backs coach will take the same position with the Browns, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. The Jets had planned to make Staley an offer as well, but the veteran RBs coach will replace Stump Mitchell in Cleveland. Staley has coached running backs for the past 11 seasons, doing so with the Eagles, Lions and Panthers. The former NFL running back will have a chance to coach Nick Chubb, assuming the perennial Pro Bowler returns from his ACL tear.
The Browns are also working to hire one of Nick Saban’s former assistants to replace the other position coach they fired last week. Tommy Rees, who landed the Notre Dame OC job in his 20s and held the same position at Alabama last season, is on the Browns’ radar, The Athletic’s Zac Jackson tweets. A former Chargers assistant, Rees is expected to become the Browns’ tight ends coach. Cleveland dismissed T.C. McCartney last week.
Two casualties of this coaching carousel are candidates to land elsewhere soon. Ex-Falcons HC Arthur Smith and recently dismissed Eagles OC Brian Johnson have generated interest around the league, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Smith is being monitored as an OC candidate, per Russini, with a handful of teams looking into the three-year Atlanta HC. Prior to Smith’s Falcons tenure, the ex-Titans OC generated widespread interest as a head coach option in 2021. Johnson has not achieved similar status, and Russini does not confirm the one-year Eagles play-caller is on the OC radar. Though, that would not surprise considering Johnson received multiple HC interview requests during this cycle.
Mentioned recently as a candidate on the Seahawks‘ radar, Vrabel may be receiving some support from Seattle players. Some Seahawks view Vrabel as the best option for the job, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. Although Vrabel now has three interviews completed or booked, the Seahawks have not yet met with him. They have met with their former DC, Dan Quinn, who was the first name to emerge as the top Pete Carroll successor option. The Dallas DC should still be considered the frontrunner, Pauline adds. Quinn has a second interview scheduled for Friday, but the Seahawks have a few targets set for second meetings this week.
The Texans are not bringing back defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Lovie Smith hired Cesaire in 2022, whose contract is expiring. DeMeco Ryans‘ club did set a single-season sack record, with 46, which is quite something considering this franchise employed J.J. Watt for nine seasons. A former NFL D-lineman, Cesaire has been a D-line coach in the league since 2020.
On the subject of AFC D-line coaches, the Jets are retaining theirs. Aaron Whitecotton‘s contract was set to expire, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, but the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes the team reached an extension agreement Wednesday. Considering the success the Jets have had up front over the past two seasons, it is unsurprising they made a commitment to keep the Robert Saleh lieutenant around. The Jets also interviewed former Titans assistant Tony Dews for their RBs coach job, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt tweets. Tennessee’s tight ends coach in 2023, Dews worked alongside current Jets staffers Todd Downing and Keith Carter in Tennessee.

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