On Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith confirmed what many suspected: the Tennessee Titans have asked to interview him for their head-coach opening. Smith, however, made his stance plain. “That’s not something I’m going to focus on because the only thing that matters is my current job,” he said.

It’s a familiar crossroad for a fast-rising coach. Tennessee is one of eight NFL teams seeking a new head coach this cycle after firing its coach on Oct. 13, and the Titans have already lined up a long list of names — 11 reported candidates with permissions sought or interviews scheduled. But Smith, who helped shape some of the Titans’ best modern offenses, isn’t taking the bait mid-playoff week. “Just like anything in the offseason, you deal with it,” he added. “That’s a distraction.”

Per NFL rules, Smith cannot interview until three days after the Steelers’ Monday night wild-card game against the Houston Texans. If Pittsburgh wins, any interview would be virtual. In other words: no detours until the Steelers’ postseason business is done.

Why the Titans are circling Arthur Smith

Smith’s Tennessee roots run deep. He joined the Titans in 2011 as a quality control coach and stayed through 2020, working under four different head coaches and, most importantly, calling plays as offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. In those two seasons, the Titans finished No. 12 and No. 2 in total yards, and No. 10 and No. 4 in scoring. Their rushing attacks were elite: 3rd and 2nd in yards, powered by a smash-mouth identity that fit the franchise’s DNA.

That run parlayed into a head job with the Atlanta Falcons, where Smith went 21–30 over three seasons, including three straight 7–10 finishes. The results were mixed. The offenses had flashes, the culture work drew praise, but the wins didn’t pile up. Still, league decision-makers remember the Titans years — the efficiency, the physicality, the clarity of plan.

“If the Titans want their old edge back, Smith is the cleanest cultural fit.”

Steelers offense under Arthur Smith: steady, not spectacular

Smith landed in Pittsburgh ahead of the 2024 season, brought in after the Steelers moved on from Matt Canada the year before — a rare midseason change that underlined how far the unit had drifted. Smith’s brief was simple: bring order, identity, and balance.

By the numbers, the 2025 Steelers are still a work in progress. They rank No. 25 in total offense and No. 26 in rushing yards. The scoring clip is mid-pack at No. 15. On an efficiency metric many teams trust, EPA per play, they sit at No. 16 — basically average. Yet the broader picture matters: Pittsburgh won its first AFC North title since 2020. The offense may not pop weekly, but the team baseline is higher, the plan more consistent, and the schedule more forgiving when your defense can count on time of possession and structure.

There’s also the reality of context. The Steelers have dealt with quarterback changes and roster churn. Fans want more explosive plays and more targets for tight end Pat Freiermuth, but the unit looks cleaner and more balanced than it did before. That’s not nothing.

“The stats say average, the standings say AFC North champs — which one matters in January?”

Smith’s message: live in the present, block out noise

Smith’s words this week matched his reputation for focus. “It’s like trying to tell people all the time, I’m living the present,” he said. “If you have perspective, you have life experiences, you’re wasting time worrying about the future if you deal with that.” He doubled down later: “So all my focus is on our guys, these guys, and anything I take away from that is not doing my job. So all I care about is the Steelers and our players.”

That mirrors what another reported Titans target, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, said: “I’m just honored to be in those. I think right now with all that stuff, it can be a distraction.” In playoff week, the line between interest and interference is thin. Smith is drawing it in bold ink.

Titans’ coaching search: crowded field, no hard timeline

Tennessee moved first in this cycle, making the opening on Oct. 13 and sparking a long runway to scout candidates. General manager Mike Borgonzi has not set a firm timeline. Reports indicate requests for multiple playoff-bound coordinators, including Hafley and San Francisco’s Robert Saleh among others, with the total list sitting at 11 as of this week. The field is wide.

Smith’s candidacy ticks obvious boxes for the Titans: familiarity with the building, a track record of top-tier rushing offenses, and the kind of level-headed presence ownership often values. There’s also a connective tissue to the marketability of the hire; Smith’s father was the late FedEx founder Fred Smith, a name that resonates in Tennessee corporate circles. None of that guarantees anything, but it explains the interest.

“If Pittsburgh keeps winning, does Tennessee wait — or move on to the next name?”

What it means for Pittsburgh right now

Practically, nothing changes for the Steelers until after Monday. By rule, Smith cannot interview before then, and if the Steelers beat Houston, any conversation must be virtual. That protects Pittsburgh’s prep and keeps attention on the game plan.

Strategically, the Steelers know the league is watching. If Smith advances in the Titans’ process — or with any of the other seven teams hiring — Pittsburgh will need contingency thinking at offensive coordinator. Local coverage has already started spitballing ideas, but this is the kind of problem you want: interest usually follows success, and the Steelers just hung another division banner.

The bottom line

Arthur Smith is a real candidate for a job he once auditioned for with results — the Titans’ best recent offenses were under his watch. He’s also a coach trying to keep a young offense on script while the NFL’s hiring carousel spins around him. For now, his answer is simple and steady: the Steelers come first.

After the wild-card game, the calendar opens a crack. Whether the Titans will still be waiting — and whether the Steelers’ season will still be alive — may decide the next step in Smith’s journey.

Until then, there’s a playoff game to call.