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Arthur Smith had an overall record of 21-30 in three seasons as Falcons coach
- Before the clock struck 12:01 Eastern time, Smith was out of his post in Atlanta
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The Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith seconds into ‘Black Monday’ after his team lost 48-17 to the Saints on Sunday.
The Falcons ended the season 7-10. All three years under Smith, Atlanta finished with the same record and missed the playoffs.
The Falcons haven’t made the postseason since the 2017 season, a year after they blew a 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
News of Smith’s firing broke just 38 minutes after the conclusion of the Bills’ game vs. the Dolphins, the final game of the NFL regular season.
‘Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,’ Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. ‘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.’
The Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith seconds into ‘Black Monday’
Smith was 21-30 as the Falcons head coach and the team didn’t make a playoff appearance
‘He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations,’ Blank continued.
‘After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position,’ Blank concluded.
Smith’s final act on the field as head coach saw him become embroiled in a spat with Saints counterpart Dennis Allen after New Orleans scored a late-fourth-quarter-touchdown – despite lining up in victory formation.
‘That’s f***ing bulls***!’ Smith said during a furious tirade.
