Report: Arthur Smith, Steelers Expected to Agree to OC Contract After Falcons Stint

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 30, 2024

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hire former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as their next offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Smith went 21-30 in his three years with Atlanta. Before that, he was the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator for two seasons.

Given the personnel in Pittsburgh’s offense, Smith makes a lot of sense for the role.

During his short spell in Tennessee, the Titans became an elite offensive unit with a scheme centered around Derrick Henry. The running back led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2019 and 2020, going for 2,027 yards in the latter year.

With the Steelers, Smith inherits the backfield tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who combined to rush for 1,819 yards and 12 scores. Expectations might be particularly high for Harris, who was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2021 and failed to match that level since.

Smith’s tenure in Atlanta will leave some fans disappointed with his hiring, though.

Quarterback Desmond Ridder failed to make great strides through his first two years, while the Falcons had a below-average offense in 2023 despite investing top-10 picks in Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

From the outside, Smith doesn’t look like an ideal candidate to maximize the value of wideouts George Pickens and Diontae Johnson or coax something new out of quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Chris Meaney @chrismeaneyCan we just get George Pickens out of Pittsburgh.

He needs to play with a QB who can get him the ball.

Chris Trapasso 🏈 @ChrisTrapassowaiting on “George Pickens requests a trade” report to drop next https://t.co/CBGeuUNl4W

Granted, what the Steelers do at QB might be bigger than the offensive coordinator they hired.

Targeting a replacement for or at least a viable veteran alternative to Pickett would present a significant change next season.