North Carolina recently fired head coach Mack Brown, and the school’s process of finding his replacement is underway. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith received a call about the vacant position. 
“Reality is [UNC] reached out on [a] preliminary call,” Smith said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I appreciate it, love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.”
Smith spent his college career at UNC as a player (2001-05) and worked as a graduate assistant there to begin his coaching tenure. His experience leading a staff at the NFL level – with the Falcons between 2021 and ’23 – coupled with his connections to the school make him a logical candidate to replace Brown. As Smith noted, however, his focus is not currently on taking whatever head coaching gig presents itself.
“I’ve got an awesome job here,” the 42-year-old added. “[I] probably [have] a different mindset than I had five, four years ago where any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. Now my perspective’s different, and when you got something good like I got here in Pittsburgh right now, family loves it here. I like the working environment, love being a Steeler.”
In a rare move given their organizational history, the Steelers made an in-season offensive coordinator change last year with Matt Canada being dismissed. Smith was brought in as his full-time replacement after drawing interest from the Jets. New York’s offer came with an uncertain role working alongside then-OC Nathaniel Hackett, though, and his preference was to take the Steelers gig. So far, that position has included time with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at quarterback.
Once Wilson recovered from his calf injury, he took over QB1 duties. That move has not led to a major uptick in passing efficiency of red zone success, but Pittsburgh leads the league in time of possession. The team also has the eighth-ranked rushing attack, something which comes as no surprise given Smith’s background and his success in that regard during his Titans OC stint.
Smith’s future beyond the current season is of course in the air given the opportunities which may present themselves to him during the winter. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that Smith is likely to receive consideration for NFL head coaching opportunities during the upcoming cycle as a result of the winning efforts he has been able to coax out of Wilson.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out
what
Offense is still bad. They use Najee as a lead back while he’s consistently outperformed by an undrafted rookie. He thinks this Fields package is cute but everyone in the world knows he’s running it. Then the one time they do pass it’s a deep shot in a critical situation of the game against an extremely lesser opponent we should’ve blown out. Before the year the talk was how Smith’s offense runs through 1 WR and the TEs but Muth’s invisible out there as is usage the middle of the field. The HOF QB is making the OC look good here, just like the first ballot HOF RB did in Tennessee, not the other way around….
Because najee is washed.
He still gives full effort and runs hard, but lacks that second gear or breakaway speed.
Overall just a short yardage back at this point.
The offense is so much more fluent than under Canada, especially the line coordination and mix of calls
Idk what your talking about with Najee. He is on pace for his best season rushing in his career. easily. He cant get tackled, so why does he need the breakaway speed? warren is just the opposite player. He looks for the holes and if their is one he just goes. theyre both good, but najee is the clear starting choice. Give warren the starting job and see how good he does with more oppurtunities to get stopped behind the line. I am a lifelong steelers fan from pittsburgh, and whenever Najee has the ball, I feel good about whats going to happen that play.
Um ya because he’s in a competent run scheme under Arthur Smith.
.. doesn’t mean Najee is thriving in it. Just putting up decent numbers because it’s run heavy.
But his numbers aren’t decent given his large role in the offense.
Najee has rushed for 100 yards only 3 games, and has been held to under 70 in 8 games despite the heavy workload.
Ball security is great, and is useful in short yardage situations. But has no breakaway speed whatsoever.
Running Back needs to be a 1st or 2nd round priority in Steelers next Draft
Who is this HOF QB that you mentioned?
Outside of the first game Wilson played he has not been good. Regarding Muth, Wilson is notorious for not giving his TE’s any targets. Najee should not be starting, Warren makes the offense more dynamic. Overall Smith seems to be doing a good job with the talent he has to work with.
As a Steeler fan, I can happily say I disagree with everything you just said.
The qb who’s thrown for over 250 yards in 5 of his 7 starts and has 10:3 TD/INT rate
go steelers
super bowl bound
Maybe in Madden
I know he doesn’t ask the fam for that FedEx money but I would be concerned that schools would use him to get them as nil boosters.
“There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.”
So the leaking of this news was not intended to provide leverage for a salary increase from the Steelers? Your finesse game needs a little work Arthur…lol.
Arthur Smith is not head coaching material. He’s a decent offensive coordinator but nothing else.
The offense is bland AF.. no team is foolish enough to let him be a HC again either
This is the same putz who wasted London, Pitts and Bijan
HC interest? Stop lying. Immediately