3 players who could follow Arthur Smith to the Steelers

Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback

This is a name that is probably the most well-known for his connection to Arthur Smith, but it's one that many fans don't want any part of. It's certainly fair to say that Ryan Tannehill had the best seasons of his NFL career when Smith was calling the plays as the OC of the Titans.

Tannehill spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins before being traded to Tennessee in 2019. This was the first year that Smith became the team's offensive coordinator. As soon as Tannehill saw the field, he was remarkably efficient -- averaging 9.6 yards per attempt in 12 games in 2019 while earning Pro Bowl honors.

The following season under the direction of Smith, Tannehill was equally as impressive. The 2020 season was collectively the best of his career as he earned 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while recording a passer rating of 106.5 in 16 games, per Pro Football Reference.

Tannehill's efficiency fell off a cliff when Arthur Smith departed to become the head coach of the Falcons in 2021. Since then, Tannehill gradually fell out of favor with the organization.

The veteran quarterback turns 36 years old during the 2024 offseason, and he certainly wouldn't be a long-term answer in Pittsburgh, but I can see certainly see a scenario where the Steelers bring him in to add competition and potentially even start if things start to go south or if Smith feels like he's the best man for the job.