The Pittsburgh Steelers identified Arthur Smith as their preferred choice for offensive coordinator this offseason. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported the feeling was more than mutual.
Russini wrote that Smith was one of the coaches the New York Jets spoke to about “possibly being part of the play-calling process.” Smith, though, ultimately chose to join the Steelers coaching staff instead.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported on July 17 that “Smith wasn’t interested” in the position with the Jets “in part because the role wasn’t clear.”
“The job Smith now has — Steelers offensive coordinator — is the one Smith wanted,” Florio wrote. “Once it was offered, that was that.”
The past three years, Smith served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Prior to that, he spent a decade on the Tennessee Titans coaching staff. That decade included a two-year stint as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2019-20.
Arthur Smith Entering First Season as Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator
Steelers fans expressed online a desire for the team to find an innovative offensive coordinator, perhaps a coach from the Sean McVay tree. But instead, the Steelers went a route they’ve gone in the past, hiring an ex-head coach.
While that was “uninspiring” to some, he appears to be a great fit on paper. It should also be encouraging to Steelers fans that he identified Pittsburgh as the offense he wanted to coach.
Smith also made that decision before the team’s upgrades at quarterback.
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