The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith to help fix their struggling offense ahead of the 2024 season. After one full season with Smith, fans have mixed reviews. Smith was handed a tough task, taking one of the worst offenses in the NFL and trying to turn things around quickly. The challenge was even greater with two new quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, both learning new systems under Smith's guidance.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Kyle Allen getting in reps during practice.
At first, things seemed promising with Smith at the helm. When Wilson got healthy, the Steelers' offense began to thrive, showing glimpses of potential under Smith's leadership. The optimism was high, and many fans started to believe in his ability to revamp the offense. However, the final five games of the season changed the narrative, as the offense sputtered and left many questioning Smith's effectiveness and future with the team.
Despite the challenges, Smith's first season in the Steel City still turned heads around the league. His name was mentioned for both college and NFL head coaching opportunities, with interviews lined up with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets. Although he didn't land either job, NFL insider Albert Breer reported that Smith truly impressed the Jets, showcasing the respect he garnered for his work in Pittsburgh.
"The Jets did have backup plans if this all fell through," Breer said. "They obviously liked Newmark and Brown, and interim GM Phil Savage did a nice job in his meeting with Woody Johnson, too. On the coaching side, Denver Broncos DC Vance Joseph, Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley and Pittsburgh Steelers OC Arthur Smith all impressed them. That, of course, is just history now, since the Jets were able to land their first choices on both sides of the ledger."
The Jets hired former Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn as their new head coach, leaving Smith with limited chances to secure a head coaching position this time around. While Smith didn’t land the job, hearing from Breer that the Jets were impressed by his interview speaks volumes.
AP
Steelers' Arthur Smith looks on during preseason game against the Texans.
While Steelers fans are eager for immediate change, it's important to evaluate Smith's first year as offensive coordinator with a bit more patience, given the circumstances. Smith deserves to be graded on a bit of a curve due to a lot of challenging circumstances surrounding his first season.
One of the biggest challenges Smith faced was managing two quarterbacks in Wilson and Fields, making it difficult to implement drastic changes right away. Smith appeared to be committed to utilizing Fields throughout the season, but reports suggest that Mike Tomlin was adamant about Wilson being the starter. There were even rumors of a strained working relationship between Smith and Wilson, though both sides have since disputed those claims.
It’s fascinating to see that some around the league believe Smith deserves another shot as a head coach. While his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons ended after three challenging seasons, he had significant success as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator before that. His track record there is a testament to his potential when given the right circumstances.
Steelers Likely To Bring Back Arthur Smith In 2025
The Steelers brought Smith in with the hope of restoring their dominant, ground-and-pound running attack. While he wasn't able to fully achieve that in 2024, there's still optimism for the future. If he returns in 2025, as many expect, he’ll likely have new personnel at his disposal and another chance to reshape the offense. It will be interesting to see how Smith and the Steelers’ offense evolve in the upcoming season.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Russell Wilson and Najee Harris during a game on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2024 season.
There are still many questions surrounding the Steelers heading into the 2025 season. When it comes to Smith, the focus is on the offense, and his role is the one that fans are most concerned about.
While many were dissatisfied with his performance in 2024, it appears that Smith will return for another season. Of course that could change but as of right now. It seems that Smith will be back. Moving forward, the future of the running back position, especially Najee Harris, will be key in determining whether Smith and the Steelers' offense can improve in 2025.
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