Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Arthur Smith kicks off the day of firings around the NFL.
Monday following the final week of the NFL regular season is widely known as “Black Monday.” It’s traditionally when coaches on the hot seat learn their fate, with owners and GMs around the league officially choosing whether to change directions or stay course.
We’ve already looked at the coaches who be fired this Black Monday, but here is a complete look at the coaches who now learned they won’t be returning in 2024.
Arthur Smith fired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons
Falcons have fired Arthur Smith, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2024
Smith didn’t even make it five minutes into Monday without learning his fate. The coach of the Falcons was thought to be safe barring a “major collapse,” which came in the form of back-to-back blowout losses to the Bears and Saints respectively to close out the season.
A disappointing tenure in Atlanta, Smith limped to a 21-30 record over three seasons — and struggled to develop a vision for the team over his time there. The Falcons’ passing game failed to develop, despite investing back-to-back first round picks in Kyle Pitts and Drake London. Even do-everything running back Bijan Robinson couldn’t turn this offense around.
Ultimately Smith’s fate is inexorably tied to his attempts to turn Desmond Ridder into a starting NFL quarterback. He was unable to develop the same kind of success on offense that he had in Tennessee as offensive coordinator, and that was hid biggest downfall.
— James Dator
