The organization announced on Friday that the Falcons agreed with Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to become the team’s new head coach.
Smith, 38, was part of the Titans’ organization, since he was hired as the defensive quality control coach in 2011. After holding several positions, Smith was eventually promoted as the offensive coordinator in January 2019, when Matt LaFleur was hired by the Packers.
Atlanta fired former head coach Dan Quinn in October after the team’s 0-5 start. The Falcons finished the season with a 4–12 record under defensive coordinator and interim coach Rahim Morris.
Smith was reportedly interviewed with the Lions, Eagles, Jaguars and Jets for his head coaching vacancies, but was offered the Falcons’ job on Friday morning, accordingly Diana Rasini of ESPN.
Interviews with the Falcons for their head coaching inauguration included key offensive coordinator Eric Binemi, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, former 49ers defensive coordinator and new Jets coach Robert Saleh, Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
The Titans averaged 30.7 points per game this season under Smith, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. The team’s 2020 campaign, which held the AFC South title, suffered a 20–13 loss to the Ravens in the wild-card round.
The Falcons last reached the NFL playoffs during the 2017 season, when they defeated the Rams in a wild-card game but lost to the Eagles in the divisional round. A year ago, Atlanta fell to the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
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