Falcons fire head coach Arthur Smith after three consecutive losing seasons

Arthur Smith’s Falcons tenure is over after just three seasons, as they fired him following a 7 10 campaign that ended with a final blowout loss to the Saints on Sunday, the team announced. Smith, who was the Titans’ offensive coordinator for two seasons before taking over the Falcons in 2021, went 21 30 across three seasons.

He was the first coach let go on the NFL’s ‘Black Monday.’ “Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” owner and chairman Arthur Blank said in a statement, according to ESPN . “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 were in a transition when Smith took over, as they had Matt Ryan for one final season before relying on a combination of Desmond Ridder, Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke the past two seasons..