Mike Tomlin on working with Arthur Smith: 'I know what he puts into the job'

Mike Tomlin went with a former head coach when he hired Arthur Smith as the new Steelers offensive coordinator. He liked the idea of picking a guy with no “unknowns.”

The two of them, along with the rest of the Steelers, wrapped up OTAs with a mandatory minicamp this week. Earlier, Tomlin talked about what made Smith such an attractive hire, at least to the long-time Pittsburgh coach.

“I’ve competed against him over the years in Atlanta and Tennessee,” Tomlin told reporters. “We had a lot of mutual connections from his time in Washington. I know what he puts into the job, professionally speaking, and he has quality tape. I’ve competed against him in-stadium. So, not a lot of unknowns regarding his capabilities to be completely honest with you.”

The Steelers offense was a major issue last fall. It’s why Pittsburgh jettisoned Matt Canada before Thanksgiving. Traditionally, the team waits until the end of the season to purge coaches, but Tomlin needed a change.

New Steelers OC got his NFL start in Washington

He hired Smith days after the Falcons fired him after three years as head coach at Atlanta. Before the Falcons, Smith was the offensive coordinator with the Titans. The 42-year-old started his NFL career back in 2007 when he was a defensive quality control coach for Washington.

Smith’s offenses are classic. He likes to run the ball and use play-action. Smith’s offenses will have a really good WR1. Rather than work with what the Steelers had on offense last season, Smith and Tomlin made some major changes. They signed quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Eagles. They also sent receiver Diontae Johnson to the Panthers. The team opted not to pick up the fifth-year option of Najee Harris, but the running back is still the main running back.

In interviews with the media this week, Smith said when Tomlin called in January, he wasn’t sure he wanted to return to quickly to the NFL. Smith and his wife were on vacation in Dubai. Joking that he didn’t want to get divorced, he didn’t immediately return stateside for an interview with Tomlin. Instead, the talk waited a few more days.

He’d worked for a number of coaches who’d spent time with the Steelers.

“So many players and coaches swear by this place,” Smith told reporters. “You like the history of this game and the way the Rooneys have done business here. … That was very appealing. With Mike, it’s rare to have a guy in one spot to have the success he’s had. It’s somebody you can learn from and who has a shared belief.

“It was a home run for me.”