PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said he won’t let it be a distraction. His focus is here not on a pair of NFL Team having interest in talking to them about being their next head coach.
The New York Jets and Chicago Bears have expressed interest in talking to the former Falcons head coach.
Smith did not reject interest in either situation or the idea of being a head coach again, it was just about not letting it be a distraction.
“You’re extremely humbled because there’s so many great candidates out there,” Smith said Wednesday before practice. “It’s nice that somebody wants to talk to you.”
Smith was the head coach for three seasons in Atlanta, going 21-30. Previously was the offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans.
“At the end of the day, you're sitting here, you’ve got one shot, you don't know how many opportunities you're going to get to get in the playoffs and have a chance to go win it all,” Smith said. “And you can't cheat the game.”
“You owe that to the players. You owe it to the organization. And I think having done it before, it's a lot easier just to push it away.”
The first time, it’s not as easy. He said you try to compartmentalize, but it’s your first potential head coaching job. It’s a completely different feel than to have done it before and have a shot at another opportunity.
Smith said he has not interviewed for either opening. A month ago he said he removed himself from any consideration to be the head coach at his alma mater, North Carolina.
“I'll get to that when it’s the appropriate time, but I cannot waste time and cheat the game and cheat the players,” Smith said. “And in this organization, our focus has got to be on Baltimore.”