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Arthur Smith could only be out of a head coaching job for one season.
Per ESPN’s Rich CiminiSmith is seen as a “dark-horse candidate” to replace Robert Saleh, who the New York Jets fired as head coach in October.
“Another name to watch, he’s kind of a dark-horse candidate, Arthur Smith, currently the Steelers offensive coordinator,” Cimini said on his podcast, Flight Deck (11:10 mark). “He was one of the runner-ups to Saleh in 2021.”
Smith was the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach from 2021 until last season when he was fired after the Falcons missed the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season. The Pittsburgh Steelers brought him in to be the offensive coordinator this season, and he’s performed decently well in that role so far.
The 9-3 Steelers rank 14th in total offense, averaging 344 yards and 24.7 points per game. Pittsburgh had its best offensive performance of the season last week when they beat the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38 behind 414 passing yards and three touchdowns from Russell Wilson.
Along with Smith, Cimini noted Mike Vrabel and Aaron Glenn as possible candidates for the Jets’ coaching job.
Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018 to 2023, leading them to three consecutive playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship appearance in 2019. He’s currently a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
Glenn, who played for the Jets from 1994 to 2001, is the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and has guided a defense that has allowed just 16.9 points per game this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was also mentioned as a potential candidate.
Whoever inherits the Jets will take over a team that needs a lot of work. New York is 3-9 on the season and could be heading toward an offseason full of personnel changes, including a new starting quarterback.
New York, which fired general manager Joe Douglas in November, reportedly “prefers to move on from Rodgers, too,” per SNY’s Connor Hughes.
The Jets, who will likely miss the playoffs for a 15th straight season this year, are hoping to finally find the coach who can turn things around, but it will be a tall task.
