Arthur Smith went back to his roots this year after he agreed to become the offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers following a three-year stint as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Smith’s time in Atlanta didn’t go well despite numerous first-round players on offense, and now he’ll join a youthful Steelers squad looking for support in 2024.
Even though he’s not a head coach anymore, Smith noted that Pittsburgh is a “perfect cultural fit” because of the legacy of the Steelers organization.
“It’s such a unique opportunity to be able to work for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Smith said on the team’s website, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.” With the history and the culture here, and the opportunity to work with Mike Tomlin, to me it’s a perfect cultural fit.”
New OC Arthur Smith told the Steelers’ team website it was the “perfect cultural fit.”
Full quote: “It’s such a unique opportunity to be able to work for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the history and the culture here, and the opportunity to work with Mike…
Smith will now be working with third-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and a collection of equally young skill position players in wide receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Whether or not Smith can turn the Steelers around remains to be seen, but they have flashed potential for the past two years even with uneven play from Pickett and the rest of the quarterback group.
Smith helped the Titans become one of the best offenses in the NFL with Ryan Tannehill under center and a battering ram at running back in Derrick Henry.
He’ll have slightly worse personnel in Pittsburgh, but perhaps the culture he spoke about will foster a better situation than the one he created in Atlanta and left in Tennessee.
