The New York Giants have officially initiated a major overhaul after deciding to fire Brian Daboll — the coach once expected to bring new life to the franchise, but who ultimately finished his tenure with only one playoff win. After four turbulent seasons, the Giants concluded they could no longer wait for a miracle. With that decision, the search for a new head coach immediately became one of the biggest storylines of the NFL this week.
What’s surprising is the emergence of an unexpected name on their shortlist: Arthur Smith, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator — someone many fans didn’t believe would be leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon.
While New York struggles to rediscover its identity after several disappointing seasons, Pittsburgh remains a model of stability. Mike Tomlin, despite not having a playoff win since 2017, continues to hold one of the league’s most secure coaching jobs — something rare in the modern NFL. But that stability might come at a cost if Arthur Smith becomes the next coach to leave the Steel City.
Why are the Giants targeting Arthur Smith?
On paper, the Steelers’ offense isn’t exactly terrifying. But context matters: Smith has been managing one of the most chaotic quarterback situations in the league — Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and then Aaron Rodgers. Three different styles. Three vastly different resumes. Three completely different eras of football. Yet Smith has still managed to improve the Steelers’ offensive consistency compared to the Matt Canada era, making them steadier, more adaptable, and — most importantly — avoiding complete collapse.
For the Giants, that matters.
New York is placing its future in the hands of young quarterback Jaxson Dart, who needs a head coach capable of building a system around him, not forcing him into a rigid scheme. And that’s exactly what Arthur Smith does best: he maximizes the players he has rather than forcing them into what he wants them to be.
New York is desperate — and desperation sometimes leads to the smartest decisions
The Russell Wilson experiment was supposed to save the Giants. It failed. Jaxson Dart has shown flashes of brilliance, but injuries derailed his season. Cam Skattebo — one of the offense’s key weapons — is out for the year.
In that context, New York isn’t just looking for a coach.
They’re looking for a rebuilder — someone who can lead a long-term recovery and lift the team out of chaos.
And suddenly, Arthur Smith becomes a very logical candidate.
Could the Steelers actually lose Arthur Smith?
This isn’t the first time a Steelers offensive coordinator has been swept into the rumor mill, but this situation is different. Smith has already been a head coach — and even though his previous results didn’t meet expectations, they weren’t the disaster many critics claimed. More importantly, he has demonstrated real growth since returning to the OC role and adapting far better this time.
New York may not start their search with his name at the top.
But they will interview him — and that alone is enough to worry Pittsburgh.
Because if Smith walks into the interview room and lays out a clear blueprint for rebuilding an offense around Dart, the Giants may decide to put aside “flashier names” in favor of stability and proven adaptability.
Conclusion
Arthur Smith may not be the most glamorous candidate, but sometimes the least glamorous hires produce the most sustainable rebuilds.
And if the Giants are truly serious about saving their future, they cannot afford to overlook the man quietly providing stability in Pittsburgh.
