New York Jets request to interview Steelers OC Arthur Smith for head coaching job

The New York Jets have requested to interview Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for their head coach opening, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and general manager Joe Douglas on Nov. 19.

Smith is only the latest name to be included in the search. This season is Smith’s first with the Steelers. The organization has seemingly benefitted from his presence. The Steelers are averaging 319.4 yards per game this season. In comparison, they averaged just 304.3 yards per game in 2023.

The Steelers finished the regular season with a 10-7 record. They will face off against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Before joining the Steelers, Smith spent three seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. While there, Smith led the Falcons to a 21-30 record. The team finished with a 7-10 record in all three of his seasons at the helm.

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Smith was particularly criticized for his failure to utilize the talent that the Falcons brought in through the draft, including tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London. The team officially fired Smith on Jan. 8, 2024.

Prior to his stint as the Falcons’ head coach, Smith served in several roles for the Tennessee Titans, including as offensive coordinator in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He also has experience at the college level, serving as a graduate assistant at North Carolina and as a defensive intern at Ole Miss.

Other potential coaching candidates for the New York Jets

While the Jets are interested in meeting with Arthur Smith, he’s far from their only candidate. The team has also reportedly reached out to Mike Vrabel, Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan. The latter is expected to interview with the Jets on Tuesday. Evidently, Ryan is confident in his chances of landing the job.

“The reason I think I’m going to get it is because I’m the best guy, and it ain’t close,” Ryan said on ESPN New York. “The thing that you have to do, you have to connect with a football team. You have to connect with your fan base and the way they play.

“That’s the most important thing, not just the x’s and o’s and all that. Look, this Ben Johnson, I love him. I absolutely love him, but I’m a better candidate for this job than he would be.”