Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be going up against his mentor in New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel on Sunday.
Vrabel retained Smith on his staff as tight ends coach when he was hired by Tennessee as the team’s head coach in 2018. Smith was then promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019 and ultimately landed a head coach position with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021 after two standout seasons as a play-caller.
To say the least, the two know each other well. It will be an interesting chess match on Sunday.
“I don’t want to give too much strategy away, especially playing these guys in New England,” Smith said on Thursday. “I know Vrabel too well. He’s got his little henchman, ‘Stretch,’ John Streicher. You ever see ‘The Godfather?’ (Actor) Robert Duvall (as) Tom Hagen, that’s what ‘Stretch’ is to the Patriots.
“I know he’s listening to this one. He’s searching for whatever you put out there. Sorry, Stretch. I’m not giving away too much strategy.”
Smith has a ton of respect for Vrabel. He has been a key figure in his coaching career.
“I could go on and on,” Smith said of Vrabel. “He’d get mad at me because he hates getting complimented. Maybe I want to compliment him more, so he gets mad.
“In all sincerity, one of my closest friends in this profession. He’s extremely, extremely practical and a really, really smart football coach. Certainly, if my sons were competing, I’d want them, a guy you trust, you’d want your son to play for him. To me, that’s the highest compliment I can give.”
Vrabel knows his unit is in for a massive challenge on Sunday with going up against four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“His operation is excellent,” Vrabel said on Wednesday, via Patriots.com. “His ability to find relief throws in plays that he doesn’t think will be positive plays, he finds relief throws. It will be a great challenge to be able to find ways to affect him.”
Vrabel also gave Smith a ringing endorsement.
“I think Arthur’s done things with multiple quarterbacks,” Vrabel said. “I mean, is he doing what he did with [Desmond] Ridder when he ran zone read? No, but there’s also other elements that he’s done a lot of. And Aaron having played quarterback as long as he has, he’s gonna have things that he likes. And so I’d say it’s a blend.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers OC Arthur Smith Looks Forward to Coaching Against Mentor on Sunday
