fire coach Arthur Smith hours after completing 3rd straight 7-10 season.

 

ATLANTA (AP) After finishing his third consecutive losing season with the Falcons, Arthur Smith—who took over a rebuilding project in his first NFL head coaching position and was unable to end Atlanta’s playoff drought—was dismissed late on Sunday night.

Smith, 41, who is the son of FedEx pioneer Fred Smith, had a 21-30 record at the end. Every year, he traveled 7–10.

The 48-17 loss against New Orleans, which was the second-worst loss of Smith’s career (surpassed only by a 43-3 blowout at Dallas in 2021), led to Smith’s dismissal. The Falcons have lost their last four games and both of Smith’s final two outings, including a 37-17 loss against Chicago last week.

Since the Falcons’ previous postseason participation in 2017, they have had six straight losing seasons.

Smith had a meeting with CEO Rich McKay and owner Arthur Blank following the team’s return to Atlanta. Shortly after midnight, the NFL announced the termination, marking the first of what is anticipated to be multiple coaching changes on “Black Monday.”

“It’s never easy to make decisions like this, and it never feels good,” stated 81-year-old Falcons owner Blank, who is currently starting the process of finding the team’s sixth full-time head coach in his more than two decades in ownership.

This 1966 league-entry team is still looking for its first Super Bowl victory. With advice from general manager Terry Fontenot—who is staying on after being hired ahead of the 2021 season—Blank and McKay will spearhead the coaching hunt.

Blank released a statement saying, “We have the utmost respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years.” “He has contributed to our football team’s positive culture development, but on the field, the results have fallen short of our expectations.”

Following his first two losing seasons, Smith didn’t feel too much pressure from Atlanta because of the team’s severe salary cap problems, which were caused by the trade of quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.

However, Smith’s quarterback play was inconsistent throughout the season, alternating between Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder.

On Sunday, Ridder received the start and finished the game with two touchdown passes, with the score tied 17–17 at the half. However, in the third quarter, he threw a critical interception that resulted in the game-winning touchdown for the Saints and, with a mishandled snap, set up another New Orleans score. In contrast, the Falcons were unable to score in the second half.

Ridder has 12 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and 12 fumbles at the end of the season.

Smith remarked, “It happened too much this year.” “It’s our responsibility to do it consistently, and we didn’t.”

When asked about his employment situation after the setback, Smith responded, “This is the industry that we are in.” I adore being a coach. I really would have enjoyed winning today. Of course we didn’t.

A few athletes expressed their support for Smith.

Chris Lindstrom, an offensive lineman, declared, “I adore coach Smith.” “I am aware that this year we did not win the games we were expected to. However, I believe that there are more wonderful things to come that build upon the foundation of this locker room.