The Titan have submitted requests to interview Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, per Titans inside Paul Kuharsky.
Smith, 43, spent most of his coaching career in Tennessee. He started as a quality control assistant in 2011 with a season on both sides of the ball before spending six years working with the Titans’ tight ends. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019 and took a bottom 10 offense to top-12 ranks in points and yards in his debut season. Smith then led a top-five unit in 2020, which got him hired as the Falcons’ head coach the following offseason. He went 7-10 in three straight season in Atlanta and was fired in 2024. Mike Tomlin picked him up as the Steelers’ OC, but Smith has not found the same success as his time in Tennesee. Pittsburgh’s offense has ranked among the NFL’s bottom 10 teams in points and finished in the middle of the pack in terms of yardage.
Hiring Smith does not have obvious appeal outside of a reunion with a former coach. He does not have a strong history of working with young quarterbacks, a key part of the Titans’ current search, and his success has primarily come in the run game. Cam Ward has good movement skills, but he was not a dual-threat quarterback at Miami and will not be one in the NFL. His connections with Tomlin and Mike Vrabel could help him land a solid defensive coordinator.
Hafley, 46, has quickly risen up the list of hot coaching candidates after two successful years in Green Bay. His coaching career began in college in 2021 with stints at a variety of schools before moving to the NFL in 2012. He coached defensive backs in Tampa Bay (2012-2013), Cleveland (2014-2015), and San Francisco (2016-2018) before accepting a co-DC gig at Ohio State. Boston College hired Hafely as their next head coach in 2020; four years later, he took his current position with the Packers. In his debut year in Green Bay, Hafley led the team to a top-six finish in points and yards before taking a step back to a top-12 ranking this season.
Hiring a defensive-minded head coach to lock down one side of the ball while searching for a young OC to word with Ward seems like a viable strategy for the Titans, especially given this year’s hiring cycle. There are far more potential head coaches on the defensive side of the ball with a number of young offensive assistants who may be ready for an OC job.
Smith could develop Ward and develop the line but not sure HC is his forte … he better know what assistants he wants and impress in the interviews.
What on earth did Smith ever accomplish as an OC or HC, besides boring offenses? As for Jeff, did Tennessee watch his defense implode this season? Less than the WR in last year’s draft, GB has used a ton of picks on D the past 5 years with average results at best.
Boring offenses or not, he resurrected Tannehill’s career as they nearly went to the SB. Any coach would have given the ball to Henry and the offensive line utilized their talent well. Even Jonnu Smith played well there but Smith has forgotten him with the Steelers. If Smith coaches, Okonkwo will be emphasized more, I believe.
@Brian Wolf, Smith didn’t use Pitts a ton in Atlanta. Same for B. Robinson. He sub in other RB’s during his tenure there. I don’t find him impressive.
I understand. Youre right, he has to do better but we will see. I think he definitely will do things differently but not sure he is HC material.
He absolutely WASTED the early years of London, Pitts & Robinson. The amount of touches he designed for Mooney and Allgeier was frustrating to watch every week
True … but Pitts has only did anything with Cousins.
Anyone but Arthur Smith.
Dear Titans, please hire Smith. I’ll be glad to help him pack. The least creative OC in the league
I’ll come and help, WashedUp. I’d love to see Mike McDaniel come in as the OC next season, but it would never happen. He’ll end up in Detroit. Not to say I blame him.
here’s your hat, Arthur, what’s your hurry?