The North Carolina Tar Heels are planning to part ways with head football coach Mack Brown after the 2024 season and may turn to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as a potential replacement. Smith confirmed that UNC had reached out to him for an initial conversation, but he made it clear that his current focus is on his role with the Steelers.
Smith expressed his appreciation for UNC and its football program, but he emphasized his satisfaction with his current job in Pittsburgh. “I have one of the best jobs in football right now,” Smith said. “You can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.” Reflecting on his mindset, Smith added that he would have jumped at a head coaching opportunity in the past, but now, with a fulfilling role in Pittsburgh and a happy family life, his perspective has shifted.
Arthur Smith’s ties to North Carolina run deep. He played as an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels and began his coaching career at UNC as a graduate assistant under John Bunting in 2006. He later transitioned to the NFL, working as a defensive quality assistant for Washington, a defensive intern for Ole Miss, and gradually climbing the ranks with the Tennessee Titans, where he became offensive coordinator in 2019-2020. Smith then served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, posting a 21-30 record and failing to make the playoffs. After being fired from Atlanta, he was hired as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator, where he has helped improve the performances of quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson within his offensive system.
Despite the improvements Smith has made to his teams’ offenses, his units have never been among the top in the league. As either a head coach or offensive coordinator, his teams have only ranked in the top 10 in yardage once and in scoring twice in six seasons. This year, the Steelers’ offense ranks 18th in yards and 14th in points. There are questions about whether Smith could succeed as a program-builder in college football, where recruiting plays a crucial role, and whether he would even want to leave the NFL to take on a college job.
UNC, under Mack Brown, has posted a 44-32 record in his second tenure as head coach but has struggled to become a national football power. The university is expected to cast a wide net in its search for a new head coach, preferring to begin the process this winter rather than waiting until next year, when additional high-profile coaching positions may open up, increasing competition for top candidates.
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