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The New York Jets will be looking for a new head coach in 2025 after the Robert Saleh regime failed to produce a winning season, let alone a playoff berth in four years.
Jets Wire will be breaking down each candidate that receives an interview detailing their experience as well as the highs and lows of their coaching career. In the end, we will determine if the candidate is worth a shot or if the Jets should pass for someone better.
For this trip on the coaching carousel, we take a look at Steelers offensive coordinator and former Atlanta Falcons head coach, Arthur Smith.
The Architect of Tennessee’s offense
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Smith served as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans under head coach Mike Vrabel. He played a big role in Derrick Henry becoming one of the top running backs in the NFL as well as resurrecting the career of quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
In two seasons under Smith, Henry rushed for over 3,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. Tannehill threw for 55 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Titans enjoyed consistent success during the regular season as well as in the postseason in large part to Arthur Smith. It was mainly because of his work with Henry and Tannehill that got Smith on the radar for head coaching jobs around the NFL.
On to Atlanta
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Smith was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their head coach in 2021, replacing interim head coach Raheem Morris, who replaced Dan Quinn. Smith looked to add weapons to a mediocre offense and selected tight end Kyle Pitts with the fourth pick in the NFL draft. But it didn’t do much as the Falcons ranked towards the bottom of the league in total yards per game, rushing yards per game and points per game. Smith’s first season ended with a 7-10 record and third place in the NFC South.
Smith continued to remake the offense in 2022, drafting USC receiver Drake London with the team’s first-round pick and selecting Matt Ryan’s potential replacement in University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round. The Falcons rushing offense took a major leap in Smith’s second year, but their passing attack was brutal, finishing second to last in the league, only ahead of the Chicago Bears. Atlanta finished 2022 with another 7-10 record and no postseason appearance.
In 2023, Smith officially made Ridder the starter and he continued to add to the offense by selecting Texas running back Bijan Robinson with his first-round pick. The Falcons finished ninth in the league in rushing offense, but Ridder struggled as a starter throwing 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Falcons finished 7-10 for a third-straight year and Smith was fired after the 2023 season.
Would Jets Wire Hire Him?
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The Verdict: Hell no!
Smith is exactly the type of coach the Jets fool themselves into thinking will be much better the second time around. Atlanta had a strong ground game under Smith, but their passing offense was awful and the NFL has become more of a passing league. It’s alarming that for all the success he had with Henry and Tannehill in Tennessee, Smith wasn’t able to do more with Pitts and London or develop Ridder into anything that resembled a starting quarterback.
After Smith left the Falcons, he became the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh and while the Steelers had their moments with Russell Wilson at quarterback, Smith wasn’t much better with the offense than he was in Atlanta.
Three-straight seasons with the same record is the ultimate sign of mediocrity, especially in a weak NFC South. While Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis may thrive in Smith’s offense, it’s concerning that he was unable to develop a quarterback as a head coach. The Jets offense would be no better under Smith in New York than it was when Todd Downing was calling plays. Smith seems better suited as a running game coordinator than a head coach.
The Jets should pass.