North Carolina recently fired head coach Mack Brown, and the school’s process of finding his replacement is underway. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith received a call about the vacant position.
“Reality is [UNC] reached out on [a] preliminary call,” Smith said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I appreciate it, love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.”
Smith spent his college career at UNC as a player (2001-05) and worked as a graduate assistant there to begin his coaching tenure. His experience leading a staff at the NFL level — with the Falcons between 2021 and ’23 — coupled with his connections to the school makes him a logical candidate to replace Brown. As Smith noted, however, his focus is not currently on taking the next available head-coaching gig.
“I’ve got an awesome job here,” the 42-year-old added. “[I] probably [have] a different mindset than I had five, four years ago where any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. Now my perspective’s different, and when you got something good like I got here in Pittsburgh right now, family loves it here. I like the working environment, love being a Steeler.”
In a rare move given their organizational history, the Steelers made an in-season offensive coordinator change last year with Matt Canada being dismissed. Smith was brought in as his full-time replacement after drawing interest from the Jets. New York’s offer came with an uncertain role working alongside then-OC Nathaniel Hackett, though, and his preference was to take the Steelers gig. So far, that position has included time with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at quarterback.
Once Wilson recovered from his calf injury, he took over QB1 duties. That move has not led to a major uptick in passing efficiency of red zone success, but Pittsburgh leads the league in time of possession. The team also has the eighth-ranked rushing attack, something which comes as no surprise given Smith’s background and his success in that regard during his Titans OC stint.
Smith’s future beyond the current season is of course in the air given the opportunities which may present themselves to him during the winter. Offers aside from the UNC one may come in, but for now, he appears to be content in his current role.
