In one of the more surprising coaching moves of the offseason, Ohio State landed former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for the same role with the Buckeyes.
Smith had recently interviewed with several NFL teams for offensive coordinator openings, including the Tennessee Titans, where he was reportedly considered a “prime candidate,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The move marks a return to the college level for Smith, who previously spent one season at North Carolina in 2006 and another at Ole Miss in 2010 as a defensive intern. The rest of his coaching career has been built in the NFL.
Smith joined the Titans in 2011 and worked his way up to offensive coordinator, a rise that eventually led to him becoming the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. After three seasons, he was fired and spent the last two years with the Steelers.
Smith’s NFL résumé fits with a trend Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has established in recent years with his coordinator hires. In 2024, Day brought in Chip Kelly as his offensive coordinator. While Kelly had been the head coach at UCLA at the time, he also carried NFL head coaching experience.
This past season, Day hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to run his defense.
While that pattern is already notable, Day’s hire of Smith could come with an added benefit beyond just play-calling.
Arthur Smith’s Hiring Could Be Beneficial to Ohio State’s NIL Funding
The obvious reason for Day hiring Smith is his offensive play-calling and experience, especially with former offensive coordinator Brian Hartline leaving for the USF job. But there could be more upside to Smith’s arrival than what he dials up on third-and-8.
Chat Sports’ James T. Yoder suggested Smith’s hire could also provide a major boost to Ohio State’s NIL operation — because Smith’s father is FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith.
“His dad is the founder of FedEx and is worth $10B. This might low-key be the best NIL funding move we’ve seen,” Yoder posted on X.
Ohio State has already been one of the leaders in college football in the NIL era, as reflected by its ability to consistently land and retain top talent. If Smith’s family connections ever play a role in boosting that further, it could create an even bigger advantage on the recruiting trail.
Arthur Smith’s Hiring Met With Mixed Reactions
Even with Smith’s NFL experience, the move to Columbus has produced mixed responses.
“They mocked the Chip Kelly hire. They mocked the Matt Patricia hire. They’re mocking the Arthur Smith hire. When will they learn? Ohio State always wins,” ESPN’s Sam Block posted.
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah took a different stance, writing: “An Arthur Smith/Matt Patricia college coaching staff is very confusing.”
Emmanuel Acho also weighed in with a blunt critique, replying to Chase Daniel’s comment about the Philadelphia Eagles missing out on an offensive coordinator candidate.
“Maaan, Arthur Smith’s offenses are bland, and non explosive, they ain’t losing nothing with him. At all,” Acho wrote.
Smith’s transition from the NFL to the college game will be worth monitoring, especially with the kind of talent he’ll have at Ohio State. The Buckeyes could give him the most pound-for-pound loaded offense he’s ever coached, with a receiver like Jeremiah Smith and a quarterback like Julian Sayin to build around.
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