Three days after the Pittsburgh Steelers completed their courtship of Arthur Smith, the organization announced his hiring Friday as offensive coordinator.
Smith, 41, spent the past three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He previously spent two years as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans.
The Steelers interviewed Smith on Sunday, and his hiring came on the day before the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Coach Mike Tomlin spent the week in Mobile scouting players for the 2024 draft, which delayed the offensive coordinator announcement.
“It’s such a unique opportunity to be able to work for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Smith told the team’s website. “With the history and the culture here, and the opportunity to work with Mike Tomlin, to me it’s a perfect cultural fit.”
The Falcons were 7-10 in each of Smith’s three seasons as head coach. He had more success as offensive coordinator in Tennessee when he worked with workhorse running back Derrick Henry and veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
In 2020, Smith’s second season running the Tennessee offense, the Titans finished with the NFL’s No. 2 running game, and they ranked fourth in points.
Smith is known for his work with running backs, and he’ll oversee a group that is headed by three-time 1,000-yard rusher Najee Harris and multi-purpose back Jaylen Warren. Each back exceeded 1,000 scrimmage yards last season for the Steelers.
Smith replaces Matt Canada, who was fired in November in the midst of his third season as offensive coordinator. Running backs coach Eddie Faulkner was interim coordinator for the rest of the season, and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan called the plays on game day. Neither was considered for the full-time job
