The Tennessee Titans are casting a wide net to find their next head coach. Unsurprisingly, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is among the candidates entering the NFL’s wild card weekend.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning the Titans submitted a request to interview three coordinators, one of which was Smith. The other two were Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini also reported the Titans submitted interview requests for Smith, Hafley and Saleh.
The Titans are presumably also interested in other candidates, such as John Harbaugh. Smith, Hafley and Saleh appear to be the candidates who are coaching during wild card weekend that Tennessee is interested in.
It is not at all surprising the Titans are pursuing Smith. Prior to becoming Atlanta Falcons head coach in 2021, Smith spent 10 seasons on the Tennessee coaching staff under multiple head coaches.
Smith served as Titans offensive coordinator from 2019-20. During that time, Tennessee featured one of the top rushing offenses in the league and made a trip to the AFC championship game.
Titans Request Interview With Steelers OC Arthur Smith
The Titans fired former head coach Brian Callahan just six games into the 2025 season. When that happened in October, NFL pundits immediately linked Smith to the opening.
Rapoport called the Steelers offensive coordinator a “name to watch” for the Titans on October 13.
Smith began coaching at 26 years old as a graduate assistant with North Carolina. He then served as a defensive quality assistant for the then Washington Redskins from 2007-08.
In 2011, Smith joined the Titans staff as defensive quality control. Over his decade with the team, he served in a variety of roles, including as the tight ends or assistant tight ends coach for five years.
During both his two seasons as offensive coordinator, Tennessee finished top three in rushing yards, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. The Titans were also ranked in the top 10 in points scored both years.
Tennessee had running back Derrick Henry in his prime. But under Smith, quarterback Ryan Tannehill revitalized his career. In January 2020, the Titans won two road playoff games before falling to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship.
Smith also has personal connections to Tennessee. The offensive coordinator was born in Memphis. His father, Frederick W. Smith, founded FedEx, which is headquartered in Memphis.
Former Steelers-Titans Rivalry
The Steelers and Titans aren’t much of rivals today. But Pittsburgh sports fans of a certain age will remember the old AFC Central, where Steve McNair, Eddie George and the Titans were formidable foes for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh sports fans of the previous generation will also remember the Titans franchise as the Houston Oilers. The Steelers and Oilers met in the 1978 and 1979 AFC championship games.
The Steelers won both games and then the Super Bowl to solidify themselves as the best NFL franchise of the 1970s.
For those Steelers fans, it could be a difficult pill to swallow losing the team’s top offensive coordinator in more than a decade to the Titans.
But again, Tennessee appears interested in multiple candidates. So, it’s difficult to calculate Smith’s chances.
In two years as Steelers offensive coordinator, Smith’s unit has finished middle of the road in points scored and outside the top 20 in yards. During 2025, the Steelers were 22nd in passing and 26th in rushing.
That doesn’t scream head coach material. However, Smith appears to have maximized what the Steelers had behind center both years.
In 2024, Justin Fields played very well in six games for Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson revitalized his career for a short time as well.
This past season, Aaron Rodgers played better than expected, leading the team to the postseason without D.K. Metcalf the final two weeks.
According to The Athletic, coaches whose current teams play on wild card weekend can begin interviewing for head coach openings either two or three days after their playoff games. That means Smith can first interview with Tennessee on Wednesday, January 14.
The Steelers will host the Houston Texans for a playoff matchup on Monday night, January 12.
The Titans can interview Smith regardless of the playoff game’s result.
Former Steelers Rival Submits Request to Interview OC Arthur Smith: Report