Ex Falcons Coach Arthur Smith Impressed Steelers with Offensive Vision

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan discusses the team's decision to hire former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Last spring, Arthur Smith watched the NFL Scouting Combine from a suite overlooking the field inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

Smith wore red and black at the time. Now, he's wearing black and gold.

Fired Jan. 7 after three years as the Atlanta Falcons' head coach, Smith is back in the NFL as the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator.

Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith pictured in his first interview as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator / Pittsburgh Steelers

Atlanta went 7-10 in each of Smith's three seasons at the helm and struggled down the stretch in 2023, losing four of its final five games while being outscored 85-34 in Weeks 17 and 18.

The Falcons' offense, which Smith oversaw, was marred by quarterback inconsistency and finished just No. 26 in scoring and No. 17 in yards league wide.

But when Smith interviewed for Pittsburgh's play-calling vacancy, those production woes weren't an issue.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ultimately made the decision, but general manager Omar Khan was impressed with the plan Smith put on the table.

"When he came in for his interview, I spent some time with him and his vision for the team and the offense was really encouraging from my standpoint," Khan said Thursday at the NFL Combine. "I enjoyed hearing his vision."

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Steelers owner Art Rooney II echoed Khan's sentiments, citing Smith's tenure in Atlanta and as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator before that.

"Arthur had great experience, obviously, as a coordinator in Tennessee for a few years there," Rooney said, per CBS Pittsburgh. "Then, as a head coach, that’s a great experience. He just seemed like a good fit, and Mike was very comfortable with him."

The plan Smith's bringing to Pittsburgh is one that highlights the run-heavy, physicality-oriented approach he illustrated during his time in Atlanta.

But it also includes quarterback Kenny Pickett, according to Khan.

"I'm excited about the impact that Arthur Smith's going to have on (Pickett)," Khan said. "Arthur is very optimistic about Kenny."

Perhaps the biggest blemish on Smith's time in Atlanta was his decision to enter 2023 with Desmond Ridder as his starting quarterback. The result was Ridder being benched not once but twice for veteran Taylor Heinicke.

Ridder, selected No. 74 overall, was the second highest-drafted quarterback in the 2022 class ... behind only Pickett, who went No. 20 overall.

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Now, Smith appears interested in opening his Steelers stint with another 2022 passer who lost his starting job last season - and Khan, at least publicly, is on the same page as his new offensive coordinator.