Steelers' Arthur Smith Ignites Team With Harsh Pittsburgh Media Headlines

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered into a new era on offense when they hired Arthur Smith to be their offensive coordinator. The hope was that Smith could bring much-needed change to a unit that had been underwhelming for years. In his first season running the show in 2024, there were flashes of improvement, but overall, the offense remained inconsistent and struggled to find its true identity. That has placed extra pressure on Smith heading into the 2025 campaign, where the expectations are much higher. With 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers leading the way at quarterback and an offense stacked with weapons that includes DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, and three reliable tight ends, Smith has more tools than ever to build the type of physical, efficient attack he was brought in to create.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Smith has been whether he can maximize this roster’s potential and finally give Pittsburgh the explosive offense fans have been craving. While his scheme has always leaned on a strong ground game and tight end involvement, Smith is also known for his fiery personality and the way he pushes players to rise above outside criticism. That side of his coaching style was revealed this week when former Steelers tight end MyCole Pruitt shared an inside look at how Smith motivates his players. Pruitt, who spent the 2024 season in Pittsburgh, offered a glimpse of what goes on behind closed doors in the Steelers’ locker room and how Smith uses outside voices to his advantage.

Though Pruitt is no longer in the Steel City, he joined Brian Batko on the Chipped Ham & Football podcast on Thursday and delivered a telling detail about Smith’s leadership. According to Pruitt, one of Smith’s favorite tactics is pulling up news clips and headlines from both the Pittsburgh media and national outlets. 

"Art pulls up those news clips all the time, 'Yeah, this is what they're saying about us, but we're gonna go write our own story,' type thing," Pruitt said Thursday on the Chipped Ham And Football Podcast. "So, I'm sure they're doing the same thing this week. Everybody was high on them the first week, and everybody's down this week. That's just [how] the NFL goes. I'm sure they're saying those same things in that locker room."

He shows those to his players as proof of the doubt surrounding the team, telling them that it is up to the Steelers to go write their own story. It is a method that combines accountability with motivation, reminding the players that while criticism will always be part of the NFL, they can use it as fuel to define their own narrative.

The type of leader Smith has been is impressive. There is no question about the leadership presence in Pittsburgh with him and Head Coach Mike Tomlin working together. The issue has been that the defense has struggled, which has forced the offense to carry much of the load in the 2025 season. Now Smith will focus on getting his unit operating at an elite level in a league where offensive firepower often decides success.

Steelers' Arthur Smith Looking To Prove Critics Wrong In 2025

Not many believe he can turn things around and transform the Steelers’ offense into one of the best in the NFL. However, Smith is putting in the work to prove his critics wrong. He is using every opportunity to inspire and motivate this team, making sure his players stay focused and driven as they fight to build consistency. 

Smith is likely collecting negative headlines right now as he attempts to motivate his unit for the Week 3 contest on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

How do you feel about the job Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has done so far in his tenure?