The Pittsburgh Steelers are known as one of the most stable franchises in the NFL, thanks to the Rooney family. Whether the player is currently on the roster or part of the black and gold alumni, there is something lasting about being a part of that fraternity. During the lead up to Super Bowl LVIII, former Steelers' running back Merril Hoge spoke on how special it is to be a part of the Steelers' organization even after you have left.
Steelers Are A Special Franchise Because Of The Rooneys
In a league where rosters and franchises can change in an instant, having consistency throughout the existence of a franchise is something truly unique. Art Rooney II has continued the tradition in Pittsburgh of leading through stability and not getting too mixed in with the happenings on the football field.
During Super Bowl Week's hectic energy and media, Hoge sat down with Scott Ferrall on SportsGrid Live to talk about the Steelers and what makes the organization stand out from the rest of the NFL. Hoge played running back and fullback for the Steelers from 1987 until 1993, so when he talks about wearing the black and gold, it's from personal experience. Hoge spoke very highly of the Rooney family, citing them as the chief reason for the stability of the Steelers' franchise.
"Mr. Rooney said something when I went to Chicago as a free agent...the one thing he just said to me, 'I just want you to know, anytime you want to come in the front door of these offices, you are always welcome'...I felt that was one of the greatest honors ever...that I was welcome back, and I've always felt like that. They've always made me feel like that."
So many players throughout the years have similar stories of when the Rooneys went above and beyond, seeing them as family instead of having a transactional relationship. Hoge went on to talk about the new Steelers' Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith. According to Hoge, the way the organization handled the Matt Canada situation should speak to the deserved trust that has been earned by the Rooney family.
"I will say this about Art: Art is obviously different, but there is -- don't underestimate him. You know, cause they have never gotten rid of a coordinator during the season in that era, and for him to do that and his commitment at doing it during the season is rare. You know...it's never happened before, during the time frame with the Rooneys. So, to have that happen...it was required, they needed to do that too, and, you know, he's made some calls that's required. I think he's not quick to rush to judgment and pull the rug out from somebody. He wants things to unfold."
Considering how historic it was for the Steelers to fire Canada mid-season, there should be no doubt that the decision on Smith was considered in depth before anything was made official. A plan is being laid out in Pittsburgh, and Smith and his staff are a large and vital part of that. The Steelers are looking to build on their surprising finish to the 2023 season, and a great way to do that is to field a legitimate offensive attack.
Steelers Have High Hopes For Smith's Offense
After an impressive 2023 preseason, the Steelers never returned to that feeling of a humming offense andexcellent play-calling. Canada lost his job, Kenny Pickett couldn't avoid injuries, Mitch Trubisky was a disaster, and it ended up being Mason Rudolph who righted the ship.
Smith didn't find success as a head coach with the Atlanta Falcons, but the Steelers don't need a second head coach; they need him to man their young, talented offense. Under Smith, the Tennessee Titans' offense reached impressive heights in 2019 and 2020. Smith was offensive coordinator for the Titans in both those seasons, with the Titans averaging over 25 points per game in both campaigns. A connection many are making is the similarities between Derrick Henry, who Smith coached in Tennessee, and Najee Harris.
Henry ran for 1,540 yards in 2019 and then blew all expectations out of the water with 2,027 yards in 2020. While no one is predicting a 2,000-yard season for Harris, there is precedent for Smith knowing exactly what to do with a bruising running back. Until there is a football that counts with Smith's offense on the field, nothing is for sure, but there are certainly reasons to be optimistic, even if it is cautiously.
How will the 2024 Steelers' offense be ranked when the season ends? How many points per game will the 2024 Steelers' offense score?
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