Former Steelers OC Arthur Smith to be named Ohio State offensive coordinator: Source

By Cameron Teague Robinson and Dianna Russini

Ohio State has its next offensive coordinator in former Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith, an NFL source told The Athletic.

Smith, who was the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator from 2024-25, is expected take over an Ohio State offense that returns the best receiver in the country in Jeremiah Smith and a Heisman finalist quarterback in Julian Sayin.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day was expected to look outside of the program after promoting Brian Hartline last season. But as Hartline left, and Ohio State lost its final two games of the season to Miami and Indiana, it became clear that Day needed an experienced play caller to lead the offense.

That is what Smith is, even if some of his results in the NFL were a mixed bag. He called plays in Pittsburgh, as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23, as well as in Tennessee as the Titans’ offensive coordinator from 2019-20. Smith had conversations with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, the league source said, but ultimately decided to take the OC job with the Buckeyes.

NEWS: Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is expected to become the next offensive coordinator at Ohio State, per source. pic.twitter.com/i2WmevAPvN

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 24, 2026

He joins Ohio State as the team’s 11th assistant, which means, unless Day shuffles around the staff, the offensive coordinator will not go on the road to recruit. Smith’s job will be to call plays and lead the offensive staff, something he has plenty of experience with, given his years of coordinator and head-coaching experience.

The question regarding Smith is whether he is a good enough play caller to raise the ceiling of an elite offense. The last time Smith led an offense that finished in the top half of the NFL in total offense was with Tennessee in 2020, when the Titans finished third in yards per game and fourth in points per game.

Since then, his best offensive finish was the 2023 Falcons, who finished 17th in total offense but just 26th in points per game.

Ohio State returns an offense that should be good enough to avoid a big drop-off. Along with Smith and Sayin, the Buckeyes bring back four starting offensive linemen, their starting running back and starting slot receiver Brandon Inniss.

There’s a wealth of talent that has been shaped by Day’s offensive scheme since he took over the program in 2019. Smith won’t be asked to reinvent the wheel, but the belief is that Day will allow Smith to be the head coach of the offense, allowing Day to float around and be the CEO of the program.

In reaching that goal, Day now has two former NFL coordinators on his staff in Smith and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.