Smith says he had a conversation with the university about their coaching vacancy where he played on the offensive line in the early 2000s. Smith's coaching career started there in Chapel Hill as a graduate assistant in 2006. He says the university reached out to him about the job, but says he doesn't plan on leaving Pittsburgh anytime soon.

People cast a wide net and then some narratives get out of control," Smith said. North Carolina fired head coach Mack Brown and has opened its search. Smith’s name was quickly thrown out as a potential candidate,

A report came out on Wednesday stating that North Carolina was eyeing Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to replace Mack Brown, who it fired on Tuesday after six years as the program's head football coach.