Arthur Smith, the former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, got his next destination just three weeks after he was sacked.
The former Falcons coach will take over as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next offensive coordinator, taking Matt Canada’s place after his dismissal, according to a report from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
Smith will take on the same role that helped him land the Atlanta position after a disastrous tenure as the Falcons coach, during which he never ended with a record above.500. The 41-year-old may face difficulties, though, as he took over an offensive unit that was among the worst in the league the previous campaign.
Pittsburgh was in the bottom three in terms of yards per game and points per play, and placed 28th in terms of points per game, averaging just 17.8. Canada, Smith’s predecessor, was fired in the middle of the season due to their mediocre offense; at 6-4, they were in serious need of an offensive spark to stay in the running for the play
Smith will be tasked with getting the Steeler’s offense firing, which vastly underperformed despite having playmakers like receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson and a pair of running backs in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
After receiving heavy criticism throughout his time in Atlanta for a perceived misusage of his top playmakers, Smith will have to prove himself as a play-caller again.
Not only will the 41-year-old inherit a cast of weapons, but he may have a chance to work with a rookie quarterback, as former first-round pick Kenny Pickett’s second season in the NFL didn’t go to plan.
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Due to injuries, Pickett only participated in 12 games last season but completed 62 percent of his throws for 2,070 yards and six touchdowns and four interceptions. Should head coach Mike Tomlin and associates determine that a new signal-caller is needed, Smith will have a further opportunity to demonstrate his abilities to mentor a rookie quarterback.
Smith will, in many respects, have to take steps that he was harshly condemned for not taking in Atlanta in order to succeed in Pittsburgh.
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