The Pittsburgh Steelers brought in Arthur Smith as their offensive coordinator for two primary reasons.
Firstly, Smith’s extensive experience in playcalling, having served as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2020 and as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023, played a pivotal role in his hiring decision. Art Rooney II emphasized the importance of this experience, stating it was a significant factor in Smith’s selection.
Secondly, the Steelers aim to elevate their running game to a higher level. Despite possessing talented running backs like Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, their rushing performance has been lackluster over the past five seasons, ranking poorly in both total yards and touchdowns. Smith has a proven track record of revitalizing rushing offenses, as demonstrated by his successful tenure with the Titans and Falcons.
To bolster their running game, the Steelers recognized the importance of a reliable tight end who can contribute in both blocking and receiving aspects of the game. Thus, they signed MyCole Pruitt, who has spent the last six seasons under Smith’s offensive scheme, to a one-year contract.
Pruitt’s strengths lie primarily in his blocking abilities rather than his prowess as a receiving threat. His familiarity with Smith’s system and his proven track record as a run blocker make him a valuable addition to the Steelers’ tight end room, particularly considering the team’s need for improvement in the running game.
Despite Pruitt’s tenure with Smith, his roster spot is not guaranteed, and he will compete for a position, likely as the TE3 or TE4 on the depth chart, depending on the team’s decisions regarding other players like Connor Heyward. Ultimately, the decision on Pruitt’s roster status will be made by the team’s general manager, Omar Khan.