Steelers OC Arthur Smith confident offense will adapt: Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf weren’t signed ‘to go run the wishbone’

Smith said the Pittsburgh offense will adjust to its players strengths in the upcoming season.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith addressed the media on the second day of the team’s mandatory veteran minicamp, replying to questions regarding Pittsburgh’s new-look offense in 2025.

Last year, the Steelers’ starting quarterback, wide receiver, and running back were Russell Wilson, George Pickens, and Najee Harris, respectively. This year, it’ll be Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, and Jaylen Warren to start the season.

“That’s just life that we’re in right now in the NFL, there’s turnover,” said Smith of the team’s new faces. He mentioned that he’s experienced similar situations before, citing his time as an assistant coach with the Tennessee Titans in 2019, which marked both Ryan Tannehill’s and A.J. Brown’s first year with the team, as well as Derrick Henry’s first season as a full-time starter.

Smith also dealt with plenty of turnover during his time as the Falcons head coach. “In Atlanta, every year we had a different starting quarterback — Matt Ryan to Marcus [Mariota] to Desmond [Ridder] and playing [Taylor] Heinicke a little bit — drafted young guys, so done it before,” he said. “That’s our situation, and we’re excited about it.”

Smith’s heavy-personnel offense will also be an interesting fit for Aaron Rodgers, who piloted a pass-first, spread-out attack with the New York Jets in 2024.

“You’d love to be more balanced,” Smith said of his run-heavy approach last season. “You’re not obvious in how you want to attack this defense, what you think their strengths and weaknesses are. That’s the game that’s played every Sunday.”

Smith emphasized how the Steelers’ injuries and inexperience on the offensive line last year limited what the team was capable of. “You’d love to have the same five for every game,” he said, adding that it would allow the Steelers to do more on offense.

“Obviously, as your roster evolves, we didn’t bring Aaron in here, and signed DK for all that money, to go run the wishbone. So, you know, you try to play to the strengths of your team.”

Smith said he did his homework on Rodgers and Metcalf — noting, obviously, that it’s something he’d do with any new player — but he has more league-wide connections to the two than you might think. Smith coached under Matt LaFleur Tennessee, who’d go on to be Aaron Rodgers’ head coach in Green Bay. As a Titan, Smith also coached Metcalf’s college teammate A.J. Brown.

While the Steelers in 2025 will still have an Arthur Smith offense, the Pittsburgh coordinator repeatedly said he’ll adapt to what his roster is best at.

“We have our foundation — things that don’t change — but whether you lean into certain schemes, year after year, you adapt again to the personnel you’ve got,” Smith said. “That’s what we try to do, ultimately, to win games and set guys up for success.”