The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly had some internal issues during the 2024 season between coach and player. Allegedly, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith refused to let Russell Wilson change the play at the line of scrimmage down the stretch. That has been a common theme in recent years, as numerous passers have complained about the lack of wiggle room given to them by their coaching staff. That has caused concern with Steeler Nation, as the team has recently signed a quarterback in Aaron Rodgers that thrives on his ability to call audibles and run what he wants.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Russell Wilson throws a pass against the Baltimore Ravens during Week 11 of the 2024 regular season.
Insider Mike DeFabo was recently asked about the audible issues in his mailbag. He spoke about what really happened between Smith and Wilson to cause that rift at the end of their lone season together.
"From what I understand, there was some friction between Wilson and Smith by the end of the 2024 season," DeFabo explained. "Some of that centered on how frequently the QB wanted to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. It’s not that Smith was completely opposed to Wilson making changes or told him he wasn’t allowed to do so, but there were times the OC wanted the QB to run the play as called."
Apparently, Wilson was making changes at the line of scrimmage frequently during his time in Pittsburgh, which Smith did not enjoy. That made the offensive coordinator try to take more control of his unit and not let his quarterback dictate everything. Obviously, Wilson did not appreciate that response to his work on the field, and that's ultimately likely why the two sides decided it was best to move on after the postseason loss.
Gene J. Puskar / ap photo
Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and starting quarterback Russell Wilson talk during a team practice in Pittsburgh, PA.
Wilson might've been in the right here. In his first six games of the season, he showed off his abilities numerous times, including a 414-yard, three-touchdown game on the road against a division rival. When a quarterback plays great thanks to his audibles and his field vision, you don't want to take that away. However, that may have been the case for the Steelers.
In the final five games of the regular season, Wilson's most passing yards in a matchup was 217 against the Baltimore Ravens. With or without George Pickens, the passing game was ice cold down the stretch. When comparing the first half of the veteran quarterback's season in Pittsburgh with the second half, it definitely seems like Smith wouldn't let Wilson do his thing enough.
Steelers Can't Make The Same Mistake In 2025
Wilson may not have been vocal about his frustrations with Smith and the Steelers, but Aaron Rodgers likely would. He has made numerous complaints about his teams while making appearances on The Pat McAfee Show. If Smith tries to be controlling with him, everyone will probably know that based on Rodgers' actions and what he says publicly.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2025 minicamp, Tuesday June 10, 2025.
However, DeFabo doesn't think that will be an issue. He thinks there's a mutual understanding of how much control Rodgers wants at the line of scrimmage.
"I think Smith has enough respect for Rodgers that he’ll afford the four-time MVP a bit more freedom, especially with hand signals to make route adjustments without changing the entire play," DeFabo said. "In my opinion, if the Steelers believe in Rodgers at this stage of his career, their best bet is that the veteran can use his brain and his experience to work around any physical limitations. They’ll need to give Rodgers plenty of autonomy within the offense for him to take full advantage of these attributes."
At the very least, Head Coach Mike Tomlin has a ton of respect for Rodgers, and he could step in to tell Smith to give the 41-year-old more freedom if needed. The veteran quarterback's best ability at this stage is his high football IQ, so if that gets taken away from him, there is a very small chance that he thrives. He needs to be able to read the defense and make decisions based on that to succeed.
What do you think about what really happened between Smith and Wilson in 2024? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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