As the NFL unveiled the highly anticipated schedule for the upcoming season in May, Arthur Smith couldn’t help but chuckle at the twists and turns that awaited him. The former Atlanta Falcons coach, now set to take on the role of offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, found himself heading back to the city where he was let go in the season opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And just a week later, he would find himself in Denver, calling plays for his new quarterback, Russell Wilson.
“I kind of just laughed,” Smith shared with USA TODAY Sports during a training camp session in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. “Because I had a feeling they’d probably do something like that. They put us in Atlanta and Denver. I mean, the NFL is the greatest reality show going. But you’ve got to play the game at some point. They know what they’re doing when they make the schedule.”
Despite the NFL’s use of computer algorithms in putting together the schedule, Smith hinted at a human touch that seemed to guide certain decisions. “It’s also who puts in the info for the algorithms, too,” he mused. “Funny how that works.”
But perhaps the real connection that made Smith feel right at home with the Steelers was the familiarity he had with some of the coaching staff. Over his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, Smith had worked closely with a number of former Steelers, making him a natural fit for Mike Tomlin’s team.
With a schedule that seemed to set the stage for a dramatic return for Smith, the NFL had certainly crafted a storyline that would keep fans on the edge of their seats. And as Smith prepared to make his debut in Pittsburgh, he knew that the game they were about to play was more than just X’s and O’s—it was a testament to the unpredictable and captivating nature of the sport.
