Arthur Smith, Tennessee Titans. (USA Today)
The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Arthur Smith to be their next head coach.
The Atlanta Falcons are now the third NFL team in this offseason cycle to hire a head coach, as they are going with their top choice in Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Atlanta is expected to hire New Orleans Saints assistant general manager/vice president of player personnel Terry Fontenot as the the next Falcons general manager as soon as their arch rival’s season ends. Smith had spent the last 10 seasons in Nashville in various roles on the Titans coaching staff. His overall offensive philosophy should translate well to Atlanta’s personnel.
Why did the Atlanta Falcons hire Arthur Smith to be their next head coach?
After going with defensive-minded head coaches the last two times in Mike Smith (2008-14) and Dan Quinn (2015-20), Atlanta has opted to go with an offensive-minded coach for the first time since. . .Bobby Petrino. Smith is a former offensive lineman with the North Carolina Tar Heels. His balanced and versatile offense in Tennessee has taken the league by storm the last two seasons.
What is so appealing to Smith for Atlanta is the ability to run the ball. The Dirty Birds have struggled with that ever since former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan left for the San Francisco 49ers after Super Bowl 51. An improved ground game will take pressure off quarterback Matt Ryan, helping Atlanta get back into the playoffs and Ryan into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Smith/Fontenot pairing should excite Dirty Bird Nation and the rest of the NFL.