Report: Steelers OC Arthur Smith Not a Finalist for Bears Head Coach

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields OC Arthur Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Justin Fields at practice on Jan. 9, 2025. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

It doesn’t seem likely that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Smith, who interviewed with the Bears on Thursday, is technically still in the running as Chicago completes its lengthy list of interviews, but according to a report by Aaron Schultz of Bleacher-Report on Thursday, there are two and possibly three finalists for the job, and Smith is not among them.

“It’s been made clear to me that for all intents and purposes, the Chicago job … it is a two-horse race between Mike McCarthy and Ben Johnson,” Schultz said in an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Thursday. “If Brian Flores goes in and wows them, then he is still in that mix, but right now, I think McCarthy and I think Ben Johnson are the two leading candidates for Chicago.”

McCarthy’s contract expired with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, and he could be hired right away. Johnson’s Detroit Lions are still playing in the NFC playoffs and he cannot be interviewed in person until they’re eliminated. Flores’ Vikings lost in the first round last weekend.

Smith also interviewed with the New York Jets on Thursday. He’s seen as a much stronger candidate for that job, having interviewed with owner Woody Johnson previously. Smith was a finalist for the job when the Jets hired Robert Saleh in 2021, and ended up as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons over the last three seasons instead.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith
Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Smith has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Steelers. It’s unclear how interested he has been in the two NFL head coaching jobs he has interviewed for. Smith declined interested in the head coaching job at his alma mater, North Carolina, earlier this offseason. UNC hired Bill Belichick instead.

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