Bears HC candidate profile: Should they steer clear of Arthur Smith?

The Chicago Bears are searching for their next head coach, where general manager Ryan Poles will lead the charge in a wide-ranging search that will include up-and-coming coordinators, former head coaches and even a current head coach.

As the coaching carousel begins to take its spins around the league, there have been many names being connected to the Bears, including Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has prior head coaching experience and has the offensive background the team might be looking for to help develop quarterback Caleb Williams.

With Smith slated to interview with Chicago, here's an in-depth look at Smith and what he could potentially bring to the Bears as their next head coach.

Background

• Current Job: Offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers (2024-present)

• Age: 42

• Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

• College: North Carolina

Experience

• Offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers (2024–present)

• Head coach, Atlanta Falcons (2021–2023)

• Offensive coordinator, Tennessee Titans (2019–2020)

• Tight ends coach, Tennessee Titans (2016–2018)

• Assistant tight ends coach, Tennessee Titans (2014–2015)

• Offensive line, Tennessee Titans (2013)

• Offensive quality control coach, Tennessee Titans (2012)

• Defensive quality control coach, Tennessee Titans (2011)

• Defensive intern/administrative assistant, Ole Miss (2010)

• Defensive quality control coach, Washington Redskins (2007–2008)

• Graduate assistant, North Carolina (2006)

Fit with Bears

Chicago has cast a wide net of candidates for head coach, but they're really honing in on coaches with head coaching experience that know how to run a team. That could be both a good and bad thing, especially considering these former head coaches were fired by another team for a reason. That's the case with Smith, who served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23, including a 21-30 record with three consecutive 7-10 seasons, which resulted in his firing. Smith also certainly appears to fit the "leader of men" mold that the Bears are looking for to rewrite a struggling locker room culture.

But Smith also fits that offensive mind category as one of the focal points is a developmental plan for quarterback Caleb Williams, who's coming off an encouraging rookie season despite going through two head coaches and three offensive coordinators. When looking at Smith's track record, he helped reinvent Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee, which included a Pro Bowl year in 2019 (where he completed 70.3% of his passes with22 touchdowns and six interceptions) and throwing for a career-best 3,819 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2020.

But when Smith got to the Falcons, things went downhill. He had Matt Ryan for a season before some underwhelming options in Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke before he was ultimately fired. In his first year with the Steelers, Smith worked with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in what was a mediocre offense including the 26th-ranked passing attack, 12th-ranked rushing attack and the 19th-ranked scoring offense. While Smith has offensive experience, it doesn't necessarily equate to the success the Bears are looking for.

They said it...

"Throughout our research and interview process, Arthur stood out amongst a very deep and very talented candidate pool with an outstanding plan for our organization to return to the level of competition our fans deserve and expect. He has all the characteristics of a strong leader and while his achievements have primarily come on the offensive side of the ball, he has provided a plan that is comprehensive within all three phases of the game. With Arthur, I am very confident that our process and approach have led us to a dynamic leader for our team and I believe our players, staff, fans and community will be as well."

-- Arthur M. Blank, Falcons owner and chairman on Smith's hiring in 2021 (via AtlantaFalcons.com)

Bottom line

It's no secret that the Bears are interviewing candidates with former head coach experience to avoid what transpired with Matt Eberflus, who struggled with game management. But prior coaching experience doesn't equate to success, as is the case with Smith. But Chicago appears attracted to the "leader of men" type with coaching experience, so it's not a surprise that Smith is getting a look, especially when you factor in the offensive background that the team is searching for to help develop Williams.

But with that said, Smith's interview seems like a formality when it comes to interviewing a candidate who has served as a head coach. In three years with Atlanta, Smith had three straight 7-10 seasons with a struggling offense that ultimately led to his firing. Hiring Smith would be settling for mediocrity, which would essentially be a retread of the Eberflus era, only this time with an okay offensive background. There are simply better fits with up-and-coming offensive minds who have the potential to get the most out of Williams and this entire team. And following the Steelers' wild-card loss to the Ravens, Chicago should do themselves a favor and cancel this interview.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Should they steer clear of Arthur Smith?