Dolphins OC Frank Smith emotional, humbled at speculation he's a head-coaching candidate

MIAMI GARDENS — There will be no question how grateful Frank Smith would be if or when he lands an NFL head-coaching job.

Smith, the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, was asked Thursday about being linked with the Carolina Panthers’ opening. Specifically, he was asked if he found the speculation flattering. The deeper Smith got into his answer, the more obvious it became how appreciative he already is.

“It's not flattering,” Smith said. “It's more humbling.”

Smith was just getting started. The longer he reflected, the more his voice began to break up as he described his gratitude.

“I’m a walk-on from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” Smith said. “You know, every day of my life I remember it.”

Smith, 42, may have walked on at Miami (Ohio), but he quickly stood out. He became a three-year starter and team captain from 2001-03. His job included protecting a quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger.

Today, Smith is the coordinator of the NFL’s top-ranked offense, which helps explain why his is becoming a hot name. The Panthers just fired coach Frank Reich, so they’re the first of several teams that will be in the market for a head coach this hiring cycle.

Smith apparently knew what direction he wanted his life to take right after college. He became a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2004-05. From there, he was on the coaching staffs at Butler, the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton, the Chicago Bears, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers. He joined Mike McDaniel’s staff on the Dolphins as offensive coordinator last season.

“I remember why I got into coaching,” Smith said. “So it's like when all this stuff comes up, it’s pretty cool. But the minute you worry about your goals and where you want to go, you forget, like for me, how lucky I am to be here today.

“So all that stuff's cool, but I truly enjoy every day here and that's the cool part.”

With that, Smith made it clear that Thursday was foremost in his mind — not where he may or may not be in 2024.

“Those things are pretty cool, but it's not going to affect today,” Smith said. “And today's most important thing.

“So yeah, very humbling.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins OC Frank Smith emotional at talk he's head-coaching candidate