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Brooke Pryor, ESPN writer
PITTSBURGH — Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Thursday that he had a preliminary conversation with North Carolina about its head coaching vacancy following the firing of Mack Brown, but Smith also emphasized his happiness in Pittsburgh.
Smith, who was an offensive lineman for UNC from 2001-2005, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater in 2006 under John Bunting.
“The reality is [UNC] “I contacted us on a preliminary call,” Smith said. “I appreciate it, I love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I have one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s also a lot to say about [how you] “I can’t put a price on the personal and professional happiness I have here.”
Smith, 42, joined the Steelers coaching staff in February after a three-year stint as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
“I have an amazing job here,” Smith said. “I love being here in Pittsburgh. [I] probably [have] A different mentality than I had five or four years ago, where I probably would have walked there to accept any top job.
“Now my perspective is different, and when you get something good like I got here in Pittsburgh, my family loves it here. I like the work environment, I love being a Steeler.”
Smith was fired by the Falcons after missing the playoffs each season and compiling a 21-30 record. Prior to his tenure in Atlanta, Smith was part of the Tennessee Titans coaching staff from 2011 to 2020 in a variety of roles, including offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020.
Under Smith, the Titans offense had a prolific running game led by Derrick Henry. Smith’s teams were also efficient in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on at least 75% of trips in 2019 and 2020.
Although the Steelers’ offense under Smith hasn’t been as effective (scoring touchdowns on just 44.4% of trips to the red zone), the running game is eighth in the league at 135.2 rushing yards per game.
