To say former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith isn't a popular figure among the fan base would be a vast understatement. The hubris of the coach caused this false belief that marginal talents at the quarterback position could be elevated. Along with a stubborn loyalty to underwhelming offensive strategies, the head coach wasted no time wearing thin on fans and an organization that clearly made a mistake when they hired the former head coach.
Since leaving Atlanta, Smith has landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team's offensive coordinator. This, of course, led to a late-season implosion and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both departing for new teams. The Steelers finished 23rd in offensive yardage per game, with the bulk of this production coming early in the season. The Steelers followed a path Falcons fans are unfortunately too familiar with.
Former Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith Is Doomed in the 2025 Season
Not having learned from Smith's time in Atlanta, the Steelers were content to retain Smith and move forward into the 2025 season. Now, the team is stuck with Mason Rudolph at quarterback as they await the decision of Aaron Rodgers. Objectively, no potential quarterback and coach pairing could be more hilarious for Falcons fans. The ego of Smith is well established and a consistent source of frustration in Atlanta.
Paired with one of the oddest quarterbacks in the game in an aging Rodgers, the potential signing promises no shortage of entertainment. It is less of a good decision for the franchise, more of an ideal casting decision for a volatile reality show. Smith's tenure in Atlanta and first season in Pittsburgh showed exactly why the coach only works in very specific situations.
Asking Smith to work with Aaron Rodgers or to elevate Mason Rudolph will result in similar frustration. In a division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, it would be a surprise to see the offensive coordinator retain his job throughout the entire 2025 season. This is a team willingly attempting to sign up for the Rodgers experience with reckless abandon.
Atlanta fans know Smith too well not to guess how this will all end for Pittsburgh. With the Arthur Smith chapter firmly in the team's past, one can't help but be entertained by the potential train wreck of the Steelers and understand exactly how things are going to end.