Lane Kiffin suggests Falcons hire Georgia head coach Kirby Smart

The Atlanta Falcons dismissed head coach Arthur Smith shortly after Sunday’s season finale in New Orleans. Smith’s three-year run in Atlanta never produced a winning season, but the team is in pretty good shape roster-wise.

While the Falcons may look to hire an established NFL head coach, such as Bill Belichick, team owner Arthur Blank said there would be “no timetable” for Atlanta’s search process.

One name we haven’t heard much about is Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. On Monday, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin threw Smart’s name into the mix for the Falcons’ vacancy:

@KirbySmartUGA is my pick. https://t.co/wx9yMwk28F

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 8, 2024

Perhaps Kiffin was just trying to put an end to the Bulldogs’ dominance in the SEC, but Smart wouldn’t be the craziest hire this team has ever made.

Even Arthur Smith had never served as a head coach prior to taking the job in Atlanta, and he got three full seasons. Smart has built a powerhouse at Georgia, rivaling Alabama in recent years in terms of program dominance.

There’s no reason for Smart to leave Georgia, but if the Falcons are going to take their time conducting interviews, they might as well give him a call.