Arthur Smith, the former coach of the Falcons, will join the Steelers as an offensive coordinator.
Pittsburgh According to league sources who spoke with ESPN, the Steelers plan to appoint Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, as their next offensive coordinator.
The Steelers owner, Art Rooney II, stated on Monday that the team is anticipating a new hire for the position. “We’re looking forward to have someone come in and take a fresh approach who can help our young players grow and perform and have the offense perform at a consistently high level,” Rooney II said. The hire is expected to happen rather soon.
Smith had three straight 7-10 seasons with a 21–30 record, but no postseason trip; the Falcons fired him earlier this month. Smith was as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 20 prior to his time in Atlanta. When Smith first started,Before being promoted to offensive coordinator, he served as an offensive quality control coach, offensive line coach, assistant tight ends coach, and tight ends coach for the Tennessee staff in 2011. He began his career as a defensive quality control coach in 2011.
The qualities coach Mike Tomlin is seeking in an O-coordinator are as follows: “I think Mike identified we want somebody that has some experience, and somebody that has, let’s say, a track record that we can look at and feel comfortable with,” Rooney stated on Monday.
Because of his handling of the quarterback position and his use of tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson, Smith’s Falcons system was criticized frequently in Atlanta. Two rounds after the Steelers selected quarterback Kenny Pickett in the 2022 draft, Smith and the Falcons selected quarterback Desmond Ridder. After starting four games as a rookie, Ridder moved up to the starting lineup in 2023. However, after passing 12 touchdowns against 12 interceptions this season, he was benched twice.
However, Smith has managed a formidable rushing attack in the past. In 2022, the Falcons were third in terms of rushing yards, while the Titans, during Smith’s last season in Tennessee, had the second-highest total.
Rooney stated on Monday that he wanted to go back to a ground game and enhance Pickett’s growth as well as the quarterback position.
“I think we have two high performing running backs and Najee [Harris] and Jaylen [Warren] and they, along with an improving offensive line can be the foundation of success going forward,” Rooney II told reporters.
With the duo of running backs, the Steelers amassed 2,010 yards of rushing during the regular season. In the final two games of the regular season, Harris had two late surges of 100 yards rushing.
“I think we have two high performing running backs and Najee [Harris] and Jaylen [Warren] and they, along with an improving offensive line can be the foundation of success going forward,” Rooney II said to reporters.
The Steelers’ two running backs combined for 2,010 yards of rushing in the regular season. Harris recorded two late runs of 100 yards rushing in the final two regular season games.