Past and current Steelers weigh in on offensive coordinator prospects

Pittsburgh Steelers past and present are throwing their two cents into the mix of opinions on the offensive coordinator search.

During his “Not Just Football” podcast, defensive captain Cameron Heyward suggested we should have an open mind about the idea of Arthur Smith becoming the offensive coordinator. Smith, fired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after three straight 7-10 seasons, was interviewed by the Steelers as a potential replacement for Matt Canada over the weekend.

As Tennessee Titans’ OC from 2019-20, Smith’s offenses finished 10th (25.1 points per game) and fourth (30.7 points per game), respectively, in scoring. He also had a top-three rushing attack in both seasons.

“If you look at what he did in Tennessee, having Derrick Henry and (Ryan) Tannehill played very well that year as well. He’s definitely had a lot of success. I know last year wasn’t a lot of success, and things went wrong, and that’s the reason why he was fired. But he’s an OC,” Heyward said.

Actually, Tannehill played well at quarterback in both seasons under Smith as offensive coordinator. He had a 55:13 touchdown to interception ratio. His rating in those seasons was 110.6. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019 when his 9.6 yards gained per pass attempt led the NFL.

The Miami Dolphins had dumped Tannehill the season prior to him joining the Titans. The hope is that Smith might be able to resurrect Kenny Pickett in a similar way.

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Meanwhile, former Steelers tackle and current radio sideline analyst Max Starks is advancing a different name. It’s the same one I’ve been pushing: San Francisco 49ers’ passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak. Appearing on the “Pod Me Up” podcast with former Steelers teammate Trai Essex, Starks said Kubiak is a name to remember that the Steelers may try to interview in person once the 49ers season is done.

“Klint has been an OC before. He’s been on a couple of different staffs, his tentacles run a little bit longer, with his dad, Gary, having an extended network. So, I look at that and say, ‘OK, that is one that has not been mentioned because they are still playing,’” Starks said.

Under Kubiak, San Francisco’s passing game led the NFL in yards per attempt this year at 9.3. The team was also second in passing touchdowns (33) and fourth in passing yards (4,384). He did all this with Brock Purdy at quarterback, a guy who was the last pick in the 2022 draft when Pickett was the only QB taken in the first round at No. 20.

So it makes sense why the Steelers would want Kubiak. Why he would ever want to come here is a different matter.

Kubiak has offensive play-calling experience, having been the Minnesota Vikings’ OC in 2021. The Vikings were the 12th-ranked offense in terms of total yards that year. He was the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Nathaniel Hackett’s ill-fated 2022 staff in Denver, assuming play-calling duties when Hackett relinquished them in November.

Three other names Starks suggested, in order, were former Steeler Byron Leftwich, fired Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and Washington assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Bieniemy has interviewed for the Commanders’ head coaching job after the team dismissed Ron Rivera.