The Detroit Lions are officially in the mix for Arthur Smith, requesting an interview with the current Steelers offensive coordinator as they look to fill their own OC vacancy. According to reports, Smith is drawing strong interest across the league-not just as a play-caller, but as a potential head coach. He’s reportedly still in the running for top jobs with both the Cardinals and the Titans.
Now, let’s be clear: if Smith were to make the jump to Detroit, it would be a lateral move on paper. But the context here matters.
Smith remains under contract with the Steelers, but the situation in Pittsburgh is shifting fast. With Mike Tomlin stepping away earlier this week and team owner Art Rooney II stating that an internal candidate won’t be considered for the head coaching role, it’s becoming increasingly likely that whoever takes the reins in Pittsburgh will want to build their own staff from the ground up.
That puts Smith’s future in serious question.
So when teams like the Lions start making calls for a coordinator who’s still technically under contract, it’s not just about interest-it’s a signal. Around the league, there’s a growing expectation that Smith and the Steelers could be heading for a clean break this offseason.
As for Detroit, the appeal is obvious. Even after parting ways with John Morton following the season, the Lions' offense was humming.
They finished top five in both total yards and points per game-an elite tier of production that speaks to the talent already in place. Plugging in a coordinator like Smith, who brings head coaching experience and a strong background in run-heavy, play-action schemes, could be the kind of move that helps the Lions take that next postseason step.
Of course, this is still early in the process. Smith’s name is circulating in multiple coaching conversations, and Detroit will likely have competition if they want to land him.
But the fact they’re making this move now-while other teams are still sorting out their own staff changes-shows the Lions are being aggressive. They know the window is open.
And they’re not waiting around to see what happens.