Report: Steelers expected to hire Tom Arth for passing game position
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hire passing game specialist Tom Arth to their offensive staff, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. Arth was previously a passing game specialist for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before joining Brandon Staley’s staff in LA, Arth spent three seasons as the head coach of the Akron Zips. Before that, he had a three-year stint as a backup quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.
Arth will join new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s staff in Pittsburgh in an attempt to improve on the Steelers’ 10-win season during the 2023-24 season.
Smith was the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23 before being let go at the conclusion of the 2023 season. He finished 7-10 in all three seasons in Atlanta, including this past season when he was fired. The Falcons have since hired Raheem Morris to replace Smith as head coach.
That meant that Smith was in the market for a new position, and with the Steelers looking for a new offensive coordinator after ranking No. 25 in total offense in the NFL this past season — the Steelers pulled the trigger and hired the former NFL head coach.
In 2023, Pittsburgh averaged 186.1 passing yards and 118.2 rushing yards in 2023.
Smith will be in charge of a Steelers unit that has some talented young players but that struggled with consistency in 2023. Pittsburgh is also still uncertain about its long-term future at quarterback after quarterback Kenny Pickett had an up-and-down season this past year. That, of course, is where Arth comes in working with the passing game.
James Harrison addresses state of Pittsburgh Steelers
One of Pittsburgh’s best ever, linebacker James Harrison, joined the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday and talked about how he thinks the expectations have sunk too low for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The expectations should never change,” Harrison said. “I think the expectation has become we don’t want to have a losing season. And I’m not throwing salt or flack at anybody, but the Pittsburgh Steeler standard is to win Lombardis.”
The last time Pittsburgh was anywhere near the Lombardi Trophy was in 2016, when the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
“When you go into that building, there’s six of them sitting there,” Harrison continued. “Right now we’re not even winning a playoff game. I don’t think we’ve won a playoff game since 2016, I believe. So I think we need to get back to what the standard of a Pittsburgh Steeler legacy, the lore is.”