Jonnu Smith ready to extend his resume with Arthur Smith and the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers rocked the NFL boat a couple times this offseason, the most recent was the trade which sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins. Most fans focused on the Steelers receiving Jalen Ramsey in the trade, but Jonnu Smith being added certainly provided another pass catcher who can make an impact on offense.

Throw in the fact Smith has a long history with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and it made even more sense.

Unfortunately, the Steelers fan base hasn’t seen much of Jonnu Smith throughout training camp and the preseason as Smith dealt with a minor injury, according to Mike Tomlin. How does he feel with the regular season less than a week away?

“I feel great, just focusing on obviously getting ready for week one and continue to jump on this moving train,” Smith said after the team’s final practice last week. “Just ready to get back. I’m excited to be able to get back into it and pick up where we hop on that moving train. Not even pick up where we left off, the train has been moving, so just hop on the moving train.”

When it comes to picking up where they left off, the combination of Jonnu and Arthur Smith certainly has a rich history together. This will be the third stint with Jonnu Smith and Arthur Smith together, and the two have picked up as if they haven’t missed a beat.

“It’s a lot of the same concepts that I’ve been around my entire time with Art,” said Smith. “Obviously, you’ve got a lot different playmakers in the system. Things are going to change, but my comfortability level is fairly good.”

The relationship between Smith and Smith comes down to trust, and the two have that trust in spades.

“I’ve had a lot of success in my career,” said Smith. “I trust his vision, trust his football IQ. He’s a guy who’s been on both sides of the ball and has been able to see things from a different perspective.

“I learned a lot from Art, had lot of success with him. So, just continuing that and always excited to build on that.

“Me and Art, we’ve had a lot of success together. He’s a guy that’s going to continue to move that needle and bring the best out of you and demand the best from you. That’s why we get along so well and just being able to answer when my number is called.”

The reason for Jonnu Smith to be excited about the upcoming season goes beyond his relationship with the play caller. It also is the fact he’s going to be catching passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“He’s another genius and a guy who loves the game,” said Smith. “Learning from him and talking ball with him, seeing what he’s thinking. He’s a heck of a teammate. I have nothing but good things to say about AR.

“He is going to go ahead and get his Gold Jacket whenever that time comes and I’m excited to have that opportunity to go and do this thing with him.

“Just the way he sees the game. He’s been playing how many years? Twenty years. So, 20 years ago, I’m in fifth grade. I’m outside playing with my guys, jumping in the local swimming pool. And this guy’s been in training camp for 20 years now. The knowledge that he has and the things that he has seen, and he has seen everything. He’s got all the answers to the test. You want to play with a guy like that. I’ve been around a lot of talented quarterbacks. And for him to be playing at the level that he is, it’s admirable. I’m excited to be going out there with him.”

There are some who are thinking the addition of Jonnu Smith very well could be a diamond in the proverbial rough when it comes to the impact he’ll have on the offense. Let’s hope that is the case and Smith, along with other offensive playmakers, can provide a spark to an offense which hasn’t shown many signs of life over the past few seasons.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the New York Jets in Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.