Arthur

Smith

As we now know, Smith didn’t take the role, instead landing the offensive coordinator job with the Steelers. ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio later learned that part of the reason Smith didn’t take the job with the Jets was “because the role wasn’t clear.” On the one hand, it’s not surprising to learn that the Jets sought out an assistant for Hackett, whose struggles have been amplified since his one-and-done season as head coach of the Broncos in 2022. Hackett was brought in last season at the request of Aaron Rodgers, who has continuously stuck by the OC due to their previous relationship at Green Bay. Hackett, along with head coach Robert Saleh, both enter this season on the hot seat after any hopes of success in 2023 were dashed by Rodgers’ Achilles injury. Assuming Rodgers is healthy and playing well, Hackett should be fine. However, if things start to go awry, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Saleh turn over play-calling duties to someone else. The Jets’ first training camp practice is scheduled for July 24.

The Steelers’ current offensive coordinator is the Falcons’ former head coach, Arthur Smith. He will get a chance to debut Pittsburgh’s new offense with Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at the helm against his former team. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins will likely make his Falcons debut in this game, after signing a four-year, $180 million deal with the team. Though Atlanta took Michael Penix Jr. in the draft, Cousins is still expected to be the starter for this season. His return off an Achilles injury, along with Arthur Smith’s new offense, will be the storylines for this game.

Rooney said he was encouraged by strong finishes to the 2023 regular season for both Warren and Harris, as the Steelers determine whether to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option. “I really feel good about having a two-headed monster, if you will, at running back,” Rooney said after the Steelers hired former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. “Two different style running backs, both very capable, and I think — with the right offensive line — can provide a real foundation for success going forward.” Smith, meanwhile, has orchestrated some of the run heaviest offensive schemes in the NFL over the past five years, both in Tennessee as an OC and in Atlanta, where the Falcons were third in rush EPA in 2022 before a catastrophic rushing performance in 2023. While making an OC hire based on two running backs — one of whom (Harris) is entering his age-26 season — is certainly a questionable move, Smith is sure to give hefty workloads to Harris and Warren in 2024.

Just when fantasy managers thought they were done with the maddening Smith, he returns as Pittsburgh’s OC. He’ll surely bring his massively run-heavy ways to the Steelers, with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren likely seeing significant rush volume in Smith’s run-first, antiquated offense. Kenny Pickett, meanwhile, will have vanishingly little chance of developing in Smith’s offense. Look for receivers from George Pickens to Diontae Johnson to be frustrating fantasy options as Smith establishes the run in any and every game script.

According to Rooney, who the team brings in as its next offensive coordinator is entirely up to Tomlin; Rooney added that he and GM Omar Khan share ideas regularly with Tomlin. The Steelers recently interviewed former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, whose days as the Titans’ offensive coordinator (2019-2020) helped land him his first head coaching gig, but other candidates have also been vetted, including Texans QB coach Jerrod Johnson. Who the Steelers bring on as their next offensive coordinator could go a long way in determining Mike Tomlin’s fate with the team beyond 2024. Tomlin is in the final year of his contract and will be desperate to roll out an improved team after last year’s 28th-ranked offense did anything but carry them to their 10-7 record.

Few things sound less inspiring than the duo of Kenny Pickett and Arthur Smith going toe-to-toe with a stacked AFC North. It was reported earlier this week that Smith had more than seven teams interested in his services as an offensive coordinator, but the Steelers are the only team who have willingly admitted speaking to the former head coach. Smith’s run-heavy tendencies align with what’s long been thought of as the “Steeler way,” which could make him a prime candidate to fill the role.

Despite not being able to lead the Falcons as the head man, Smith seems to still hold value as a coordinator. After three straight 7-10 seasons, the Falcons relieved Smith of his duties. His most successful time as a coordinator came during the 2019 and 2020 seasons when Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing. Smith should be back to calling plays in no time.

The longest national nightmare is finally over, though it was actually only three seasons. Three 7-10 seasons, to be exact. Like Jeff Fisher on steroids. Smith refused to get any worse, but he really, really refused to get any better. Smith’s greatest crime, of course, was telling the front office he would know what to do with lottery pick weapons Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson and then proceeding to treat NFL offensive football like a science experiment, seeing which ancillary player he could make most important. Smith is no doubt proud he kept Tyler Allgeier and Jonnu Smith relevant. Falcons owner Arthur Blank, not so much. We suppose Smith has proven he can oversee a solid run-based offense, but we’ll see if anyone comes calling for coordinator work. The brand is not strong right now.

You don’t say. Now officially 7-10 for the third consecutive season, Smith could be seen screaming at his Saints counterpart Dennis Allen after offensively-challenged New Orleans dropped 48 on the Birds Sunday afternoon. Smith’s increasingly desperate gambits on offense succeeded only in producing more heartburn for himself and anyone forced to watch the Falcons or feature their players in various gaming-related activities. This has had the looks of a marriage going nowhere fast for months now. We would expect Smith’s pink slip to arrive within the next 24 hours.

The league fined head coach Arthur Smith $25,000 and the team $75,000 for not listing Robinson on that week’s injury report with a headache or an illness of some kind. Robinson barely played against Tampa, vexing both Falcons fans and fantasy managers. Hopefully Smith has learned his lesson — one of many from this year.