Falcons owner says Arthur Smith has ‘not met our expectations’

The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed head coach Arthur Smith, the team announced just eight hours after Sunday’s 48-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Falcons owner Arthur Blank released a statement saying it was a difficult decision but that he felt the team was not meeting expectations:

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” said Blank. “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 built a solid foundation under Smith but after three consecutive 7-10 seasons, this team wasn’t moving in the right direction. Atlanta’s running game improved and there’s still a good amount of talent on the roster. However, the quarterback position has consistently held this team back.

After three seasons, there was even less direction than when Smith took over in 2021. The Falcons also said they would begin searching for their next head coach immediately and that both Blank and Rich McKay would be leading the search, with input from general manager Terry Fontenot.

Falcons say their coaching search begins immediately. Arthur Blank and Rich McKay will lead it with input from Terry Fontenot and others from the Falcons and AMB Sports and Entertainment.

— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) January 8, 2024