With their season ending in disappointment, the Detroit Lions are wasting no time reshaping their offensive identity-and their first call is to a man who helped end their playoff hopes just weeks ago.
The Lions have officially requested an interview with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to NFL Network. Smith, who spent the past two seasons calling plays in Pittsburgh after a three-year stint as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, is now firmly on Detroit’s radar as they search for a new offensive coordinator.
The interest in Smith isn’t coming out of nowhere. Just look back at Week 16, when the Steelers rolled into Ford Field and ran all over the Lions in a 29-24 win.
That game wasn’t just another late-season matchup-it was a gut punch to Detroit’s playoff hopes. Pittsburgh racked up a season-high 230 yards on the ground and 481 total yards of offense.
Three of their touchdowns came from 45 yards out or more. Explosive plays, a dominant ground game, and a physical offensive identity-that’s what Smith’s unit brought to the table that day, and it clearly left an impression in Detroit.
Four days after that loss, the Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a defeat to the Minnesota Vikings. Two days after that, they parted ways with offensive coordinator John Morton.
The message? Detroit is ready for a new direction, and they’re looking outside the building to find it.
Smith’s resume fits the mold of what the Lions are targeting: a coach with a strong background in the run game and play-calling experience at multiple levels. Before Pittsburgh, Smith was the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and 2020, overseeing one of the league’s most punishing rushing attacks. That was peak Derrick Henry era-and Smith was the architect behind it.
While the Steelers’ offense wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard this season-finishing 15th in scoring at 23.4 points per game and ranking in the bottom third in most other offensive categories-Smith’s ability to scheme up a physical, downhill rushing attack was on full display in that Week 16 win. And that’s the kind of identity the Lions seem eager to bring to their own sideline.
Smith isn’t the only name in the mix. Detroit is casting a wide net in this search.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, ex-Giants interim coach Mike Kafka, Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, Seahawks pass game coordinator Jake Peetz, and Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin are all either confirmed or reported interview candidates. Each brings a different flavor to the table, but the common thread is clear: the Lions want someone with fresh ideas, proven results, and a strong grasp of how to build a balanced offense-especially one that can run the ball with authority.
After a season that ended with missed opportunities and unmet expectations, Detroit knows it needs more than just a spark. They need an identity. And Arthur Smith, the man who gashed them on their own field, might just be the one to help them build it.