Steelers OC Arthur Smith floated as potential Titans HC replacement

The Tennessee Titans are in search of a new head coach after firing Brian Callahan on Monday just six games into his second season at the helm. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is “among the names to watch” to land the head coaching job in Tennessee.

Rapoport also suggested that Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy could be a fit, as he worked with general manager Mike Borgonzi during their time together in Kansas City. Smith, however, has even deeper ties to the Titans.

He was an offensive assistant coach from 2011-2020 in Tennessee, serving as offensive coordinator for his final two seasons. Smith left after the 2020 season to take the head coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons. Smith, a Memphis native, helped lead the Titans to the 2019 AFC Championship Game. The following season, Tennessee had the No. 3 ranked offense in the NFL.

Smith, 43, never quite replicated that success in Atlanta. He was fired following three consecutive 7-10 seasons. Head coach Mike Tomlin brought him to Pittsburgh to call plays ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Steelers, who currently sit atop the AFC North at 4-1, own the league’s No. 25 ranked offense. They are, however, averaging 26.0 points per game with Aaron Rodgers under center.

Smith interviewed with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets for their open head coaching positions back in January. He appears to once again be a coveted name in this year’s hiring cycle.

Arthur Smith will be a head coaching candidate this offseason

The Titans are hoping the next man given the keys to the franchise will last much longer than Callahan did. Callahan, hired to replace Mike Vrabel ahead of the 2024 season, went 3-14 in year one. That secured Tennessee the first overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, which they used to select quarterback Cam Ward. In year two, the Titans are now 1-5, bringing him to a final record of 4-19 (.174) while the head coach in Music City.

Callahan served as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019-2023, helping orchestrate some of the league’s best offenses with Joe Burrow under center. It never happened in Tennessee, even after he gave up play-calling duties quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. Finding a coach that can get the best out of Ward will be a priority, with the franchise having struggled the past four seasons now.