Monday’s “First Call” connects Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Arthur Smith to the Tennessee Titans coaching vacancy. We have reactions from Cleveland and Cincinnati to Mike Tomlin’s quotes about Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Monday night’s NFL results elevate the Steelers even more in the AFC. And the odds are out for Penn State’s new coach and where James Franklin may wind up next.
News from Nashville
The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan on Monday. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is one of the “names to watch” for that job, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Rapoport also suggested Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy could be a fit.
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: The #Titans fired coach Brian Callahan after a rough tenure that didn’t even last two years. Among the names to watch in what should be a coveted job are former #Titans OC Arthur Smith and #Chiefs OC Matt Nagy (along with many others). pic.twitter.com/gx8iepNieZ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 13, 2025
For now, senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy will carry the interim head coach tag in Nashville.
Smith was a Titans offensive assistant coach from 2011-20. He was the coordinator from 2019-20. That’s when he got the head coaching job in Atlanta.
Smith is originally from Tennessee, born in Memphis. He also interviewed with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears for their open head coaching positions back in January.
The Steelers’ offense currently ranks 29th in the NFL in yards and finished 23rd last year. Yet, some teams still must think he can be a good head coach despite going 7-10 all three of his years in Atlanta.
More sports
• Tim Benz: If Mike Tomlin is ‘annoyed’ by media questions, here’s 1 we’d gladly stop asking
• Mark Madden: Why couldn’t Penn State tolerate 1 bad year?
• 5 things we learned: Steelers’ ownership of AFC North lead no sure thing despite 4-1 start
Not much to say
During a press conference Monday, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin unloaded on Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry for trading Joe Flacco to fellow AFC North rival Cincinnati.
With Bengals starter Joe Burrow out, apparently, Tomlin isn’t thrilled about having to play an established veteran starter twice with Cincy as opposed to Jake Browning.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers will face Joe Flacco and the Bengals Thursday night
(via @C_AdamskiTrib) pic.twitter.com/D6foBEtIuY
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 13, 2025
Via Zac Jackson of The Athletic, when asked about Tomlin’s quotes, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said, “I don’t have a comment on that.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor also sidestepped the question in Cincinnati, simply stating that he was “happy” about the trade and that was his “only comment.”
No word from Berry yet.
It’s also possible Tomlin may not be thrilled with Berry because he signed Deshaun Watson and Myles Garrett to huge contracts that the rest of the league is now being forced to chase. In the case of Garrett’s deal, especially the Steelers, because Pittsburgh then had to allocate $108 million guaranteed to satisfy T.J. Watt in July after Garrett got $123 million guaranteed in May.
Standing near the top
The Steelers now have the second-best record in the AFC. That’s after the Buffalo Bills lost to the Atlanta Falcons on “Monday Night Football.”
Bijan Robinson gutted the Bills’ defense for 170 rushing yards and this touchdown.
BIJAN ROBINSON 81-YARD TD!
BUFvsATL on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/Nfb1IdvNK8— NFL (@NFL) October 14, 2025
Robinson added 63 receiving yards as the Falcons won 24-14 to improve to 3-2.
As for the Bills, they dropped to 4-2. It’s their second loss in a row. The Steelers are 4-1. Only the Indianapolis Colts are better in the AFC at 5-1.
The Steelers host Indy on Nov. 2 and the Bills on Nov. 30.
What’s next?
There is a lot of speculation as to who may replace James Franklin as Penn State’s next head coach.
According to Covers.com, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule should be considered the favorite at plus-200. He’s followed by Syracuse’s Fran Brown and Boston College head coach and former Penn State head man Bill O’Brien at plus-500 each.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Buffalo Bills assistant Joe Brady are next at plus-800. Curt Cignetti of Indiana is a frequently mentioned fan favorite. But the Pittsburgh-born Cignetti has longer odds at plus-1200.
Meanwhile, BetOnline.Ag has Arkansas as the favorite to hire Franklin at plus-300. Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, UCLA and Florida are all on the board as well.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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