As the Atlanta Falcons prepare to play their final game of the season, the talk around head coach Arthur Smith‘s future is heating up. Will the team keep Smith for another year, or look to move in another direction?
Reports coming out indicate that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is still on the fence. It seems entirely possible that the outcome of Sunday’s season finale against the New Orleans Saints could determine Smith’s fate in Atlanta. The third-year head coach has compiled a record of 21-29.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini released a feature on the NFL head coaching carousel and she provided some interesting info on Blank.
Bill Belicick as a potential candidate?
Falcons Twitter reacts to coaching rumors
So.. two well trusted insiders have now mentioned the possibility of Atlanta targeting Bill Belichick in the event that they are seeking a new head coach. Juicy… 🔥
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) January 6, 2024
I could see Belichick dominating with the Falcons roster https://t.co/llHGJQTh1z
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) January 4, 2024
Dont shoot the messenger but lets say hypothetically that happens, Bill is a defensive minded guy & our issues have been offensively related so that would prob mean this guy would come to ATL(see pic), would folks still take him if it was to happen? https://t.co/PowhYq0nVa pic.twitter.com/N6zXAQwqyw
— Reggie (@i_am_reggie) January 6, 2024
I honestly don’t know how I feel about the Bill Belichick rumors to ATL… I still say we need an Offensive Minded Head coach..
— Falcons are so unserious (@_DJ_Scott) January 6, 2024
Fun fact: Nobody wants Belichick old cheating ass on the Atlanta Falcons.
— Dee (@deethatsall) January 6, 2024
Falcons fans scoffing at the idea of hiring Bill Belichick is hilarious.
— Tim Talmadge (@FullOnTLT) January 6, 2024
Me if the Falcons sign Kirk Cousins and Bill Belichick pic.twitter.com/h9cOMIzrvv
— Ryan (@rhopkins_) January 6, 2024
can't wait see the new look Atlanta Falcons in '24 with new head coach Bill Belichick and an all-star coaching cast of Josh McDaniels, Jeff Fisher, Bill O'Brien, Urban Meyer & Brandon Staley….whooohooo. 🤣🤣
Time to see if I can add "missing Arthur Smith" to my '24 bingo card.
— Leo P (@Ciga_FF) January 6, 2024
My best prediction?
Art gets another year, they trade for Cousins or Fields.
Long shot but plausible: Art gets fired, they try to take a big swing at belichick and trade for Cousins.
My dream scenario? Art gets fired, Ben Johnson gets hired, Jayden Daniels gets drafted https://t.co/i0XIG57NqI
— Carlton (@CrispyCarlton) January 6, 2024
If we lose Ryan Nielsen after finally getting a good defense because we fired Arthur Smith because the Desmond Ridder thing didn’t work out and replace him with Bill Belichick.
So help me Freddie Falcon https://t.co/HwMCSSID4z
— Cory Woodroof (@CoryWoodroof47) January 6, 2024
Bill Belichick leading the Falcons to a SB title would be something https://t.co/QHik83dw00
— Brian Chandler (@_BrianChandler) January 6, 2024
Imagine the Falcons hiring Bill Belichick https://t.co/vqseT3uEpH
— Hamza (@hammytakes) January 4, 2024
Agree with this. You can’t bring a guy back when he and everyone else know that he was a coin toss away from getting fired https://t.co/4lOzhbXk71
— Andy (@AndySGallagher) January 6, 2024
Bucs
Falcons
Panthers
SaintsRealistically all four jobs could easily open up if a team loves the idea of Belichick enough https://t.co/puLx1B88GH
— Matt Couture (@MattCouture5) January 4, 2024
This is hilarious because knowing the Falcons, if they hired Belichick he would 100% be the worst coach we’ve ever had. pic.twitter.com/y72cgFivxx
— jxke, esq. 🧸 (@cantguardjake) January 6, 2024
I said Bill Belichick was coming to the Falcons weeks ago! pic.twitter.com/9M5ZVFNGUb
— Devon (@DevonTalton) January 4, 2024
Everybody is in love with the "offensive" playcalling coaches. But the 3 of the 4 longest-tenured coaches are all "defensive/ST" guys: Mike Tomlin, Belichick and John Harbaugh. They make good coordinators and let them do their jobs while they keep the players focused..#NFL pic.twitter.com/8OVAlDZF59
— Tyesia Hunter (RaiderLady 19) (@TyesiaHunter) January 7, 2024
— Carlton (@CrispyCarlton) January 6, 2024
2 new teams are reportedly interested in hiring Bill Belichick #Patriots https://t.co/4hiTsiwTQi
— Sara Marshall (@smarshxo) January 7, 2024
If the Falcons fire Smith after one season where he didn't quite reach expectations and make some dumb flash hire in Belichick or Harbaugh that won't work, they'll deserve the failure. While Blank's patience hasn't always worked, it'll serve him well in this case.
— Cory Woodroof (@CoryWoodroof47) January 5, 2024
The REAL reason he’s torn because he has that bomb deal with FedEx and firing Smith likely puts a halt to the hook ups 😂 https://t.co/NiVFmpzQnr
— Ev Glaze (@Everett_G07) January 6, 2024
Multiple NFL owners want a shot at hiring Bill Belichick, if he's available. Here's what I'm hearing around the league:https://t.co/awvMGmP0Kk
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 6, 2024