Report: Steelers OC Arthur Smith is on Jets Radar for HC Position
The New York Jets have internally discussed interest in interviewing Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for their head coach vacancy, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson.
It’s unclear if Smith has an interest in the position.
Smith turned down the North Carolina head coach position, but he’s expected to receive strong consideration from several teams during the NFL head coach cycle in January.
Smith said that UNC had reached out to him as part of a preliminary search, and though he loves his alma mater, he is not focused on being a head coach at the college level right now.
“The reality is, they reached out on a preliminary call. I love that place, but that’s not my focus,” he said. “I mean, I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said to you can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here. I love that place. I appreciate it.”
Smith’s perspective has changed after his experience as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23. After that stint as a head coach — the first of his coaching career — he doesn’t sound like someone that is desperate to get back to that place. He’s said multiple times this season how much he has enjoyed the burden of decisions being placed on Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin instead of his desk.
“It’s nice when someone reaches out, sure, but again, I’ve got an awesome job here,” he said. “I love it here in Pittsburgh. Probably a different mindset than I had five, four years ago. Any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. Now, my perspective is different. When you’ve got something good, like I’ve got here in Pittsburgh right now, my family loves it, I like the working environment, I love being a Steeler.”
Rich Cimini of ESPN also reported in early December that the Jets have some level of interest in Smith.
“He’s kind of a dark horse candidate,” Cimini said on his “Flight Deck” podcast.
Smith was in the running for the Jets HC position in 2021, but the organization hired Robert Saleh instead. Smith went on to take the head coaching job in Atlanta.
NFL insider Dianna Russini also revealed in The Athletic this summer that the Jets talked to Smith about a role helping Nathaniel Hackett. Essentially a de-facto OC position.
Smith rejected the offer, however, because the Jets were not clear about the role, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Smith also wasn’t all that interested. The opportunity to coach with Tomlin and be a part of the Steelers organization was more appealing to Smith.
The Jets announced on Friday afternoon that they’ve completed an interview with Mike Vrabel for their vacant head coach position. Vrabel is the second candidate to be interviewed for the job, following former Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera.
Rex Ryan also confirmed with Jake Asman on ESPN’s Rick DiPietro & Rothenberg on Monday that he expects to interview for the Jets head coach job. Ryan was the Jets head coach from 2009-2014 before being fired.
The Steelers play the Jets at MetLife Stadium in 2025.
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