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PITTSBURGH -- New Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith added to his staff on Friday, hiring Tom Arth as quarterbacks coach, Zach Azzanni as wide receivers coach and Mateo Kambui as offensive assistant.
Arth replaces Mike Sullivan, who held the job each of the last three seasons and spent the final weeks of 2023 calling the plays after the Steelers fired former offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Arth was the passing game coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022-23, where he worked closely with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Arth and Smith will focus their first season on trying to help Steelers starter Kenny Pickett take a step forward after an uneven 2023 in which he threw just six touchdowns in 12 games. Arth's previous coaching stops included stints as the head coach at Akron, Tennessee-Chattanooga and John Carroll University.
Azzanni has spent over a quarter century coaching wide receivers, most recently this season with the New York Jets. Azzanni previously served in the same role with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. He replaces Frisman Jackson, who was not retained after two seasons with the Steelers. Azzanni takes over a group that includes Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
Kambui worked as an offensive line assistant on Smith's staff with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
Heyward honored
LAS VEGAS -- Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward received the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award on Thursday night at NFL Honors.
Prince Harry introduced Heyward.
"Prince freakin' Harry," a stunned Heyward said.
This was the sixth time the Steelers nominated Heyward for the award. He created the Heyward House Foundation that supports several initiatives in the Pittsburgh area.
"I want to say thank you to the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity," Heyward said. "Mike T (Tomlin), it's an honor to be coached by you. I couldn't play for any other coach. To my teammates, I'm thankful to be your teammate."
The foundation also honors his father, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, a fullback who played 11 seasons in the NFL. He died in 2006 at 39 of brain cancer.