The appointment of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator suggests that the Steelers should consider signing this particular quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator on Tuesday, concluding a search that also involved Jerrod Johnson of the Houston Texans, Zac Robinson of the Los Angeles Rams, and several other candidates.

Smith’s appointment addresses a major uncertainty regarding the Steelers’ offensive strategy moving forward. Now, the focus shifts to a potential quarterback competition involving Kenny Pickett and a group of contenders, possibly including Ryan Tannehill.

During Smith’s tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2020, Tannehill experienced significant success. Over those two seasons, Tannehill threw 55 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions, a considerable improvement over his performance in Miami, where he recorded 36 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in the preceding two seasons.

In Tennessee, Smith’s offense heavily relied on running back Derrick Henry, which opened up opportunities in the passing game for Tannehill. Smith, who was recently dismissed as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in early January, played a pivotal role in revitalizing Tannehill’s career and elevating the overall performance of the Titans’ offense.

During the 2019 playoffs, Tannehill led the Titans to victories over the New England Patriots and the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. Tannehill was recognized as the Comeback Player of the Year by both the Associated Press and the Professional Football Writers of America for his impressive resurgence that season.

In 2023, Tannehill, who is set to become a free agent this offseason, had a less successful season, throwing four touchdowns and seven interceptions before being replaced by rookie Will Levis.

Meanwhile, the Steelers’ backup quarterback situation is uncertain. The Mitch Trubisky experiment did not yield desired results, and there are expectations that the Steelers will release him to create salary cap space. Mason Rudolph, who performed well towards the end of the season, is also a free agent and may depart from the Steelers.

Although Tannehill, an 11-year veteran, is nearing the end of his career, his familiarity with Smith’s offensive schemes makes him an intriguing option for the Steelers. With a strong running game featuring Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, who collectively amassed 1,819 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, the Steelers could alleviate pressure on Tannehill.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has indicated that the plan is to start Pickett in 2024 but intends to introduce competition. While Tannehill may not represent a long-term solution at quarterback, his presence, along with a late-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, could push Pickett to elevate his performance.