The Pittsburgh Steelers are targeting a new coaching hire.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers have a crucial need on their coaching staff and new head coach Mike McCarthy has an idea of how he'll fill it. Smiley has years of special teams experience and most recently worked with the Buffalo Bills in that capacity.
Smiley won't have an easy time replacing Smith if he gets the job, but his experience is something that the Steelers clearly desire.Smiley most recently worked as the Bills special teams coordinator for three seasons, 2022-24, under former head coach Sean McDermott. He was also the assistant special teams coordinator wit the Bills for five seasons prior under McDermott, 2017-21. The Bills struggled under Smiley in his final season there, allowing two first downs on fake puts, two touchdown returns and having nine players on the field to block a punt in the final seconds of a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Dec 31, 2023; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Buffalo also allowed fifth-highest yards per kickoff return in 2024 and even though McDermott gave Smiley a vote of confidence after the season, the franchise fired him.Smiley previously worked as an assistant special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars for four seasons, 2013-16, and both a running backs coach and special teams coordinator at the collegiate level for FCS programs in Charleston Southern, 2012, and Eastern Illinois, 2009-11. He coached Division III program Eureka College for two seasons, 2007-08, where he worked as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and interim head coach. Smiley got his first coaching job with Ivy League program Dartmouth. He was the assistant quarterbacks and specialists coach in 2005 and special teams coordinator in 2006.Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.
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