Dec 24, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith shown on the field after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons fire Arthur Smith after three 7-10 seasons

The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Arthur Smith on Sunday night after finishing a 7-10 season earlier in the day.

The Falcons dismissed Smith after a meeting Sunday night involving owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” Blank said in a news release. “We have profound 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 been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations.

“After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position.”

The Falcons scheduled a press conference for Monday to discuss the firing as well as their upcoming coaching search.

Smith, 41, went 21-30 in three seasons with Atlanta. The team went 7-10 in all three campaigns.

The Falcons said Blank and McKay will lead their coaching search with general manager Terry Fontenot also having input.

Atlanta was mauled 48-17 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday to conclude the season with four losses in five games.

The Saints tacked on a rushing touchdown with 1:10 left instead of taking a knee. After the game, Smith refused to shake hands with New Orleans coach Dennis Allen and verbally expressed his disapproval with some curse words.

Atlanta will select eighth in the 2024 draft. The Falcons have a run of six consecutive losing seasons since last reaching the playoffs in 2017.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith on the field against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons noncommittal on Arthur Smith, will ‘let season play out’

Arthur Smith remains head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but owner Arthur Blank wants to see the season play out after the team lost back-to-back games in a span of eight days.

In an interview with Georgia Public Broadcast, Blank said the Falcons are “committed” to Smith.

He also said the plan as it relates to any decision on retaining his head coach is to “let the season play out and go from there … assess where we are and go from there.”

Atlanta jumped to the top of the NFC South at 6-6 three weeks ago but lost consecutive games to the Buccaneers and last week at Carolina to drop out of the division lead.

Smith remains unsettled with his quarterback situation, returning Desmond Ridder to a backup role this week after a 9-7 loss to the Panthers and elevating journeyman Taylor Heinicke to the No. 1 spot to face the Colts on Sunday.

“I think through this part of the season, it’s been mixed, quite honestly, that’s what I think,” Blank said. “And that’s what the coach would say. Arthur (Smith) is very honest, he looks at himself very critically. So he comes from a beautiful family that has great values and he reflects those values in his leadership the best he can. So we’ll see how the season plays out and go from there.”

The Falcons posted 7-10 records in Smith’s first two seasons in 2021 and 2022.

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2023; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons QB Desmond Ridder riding high with owner’s endorsement

Falcons owner Arthur Blank put some pep in the step of second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder this week.

Blank publicly endorsed Ridder and head coach Arthur Smith said on Wednesday that the four starts at quarterback made the former third-round draft pick in 2022 helped the team chart the course ahead with confidence.

“There’s no unknown anymore,” Smith said.

Ridder is the No. 1 quarterback in Atlanta where the Falcons have shuffled the depth chart to include Taylor Heinecke. Marcus Mariota began last season as the starter but left the team after Ridder’s promotion for the final four games of the regular season.

“That’s comforting for me to know Mr. Blank and everyone in the organization believes in me,” said Ridder, who passed for 708 yards and two touchdowns last season, with no interceptions over 115 attempts.

Blank said the Falcons won’t have every answer on the QB situation until games take place, but the organization is leaning a positive direction with Ridder.

“We feel pretty strongly that he’s going to be our quarterback in the future,” Blank said Tuesday.

Ridder said his vision and goals exceed even the strongest supporters in the organization. He makes sure not to spend his “two minutes” each day on social media investing in other opinions, but couldn’t help but acknowledge the owner’s stamp of approval.

“For me it’ll hit a little more closer to home than what the other media says,” Ridder said. “But especially in camp, I don’t see that or know about it. For me, it’s about going to work and grinding.”

–Field Level Media