The Atlanta Falcons wasted no time in getting Black Monday started in the NFL. Just after midnight on Monday, they announced the decision to fire head coach Arthur Smith after three years on the job.
Smith went 7-10 in each of his campaigns, as the Falcons were consistently mediocre under his watch. The quarterback position was a big reason for the middling success as Smith made the ill-fated decision to stick with 2022 third-round pick Desmond Ridder as his starting quarterback for the 2023 season.
He struggled and was benched in favor of free agent signing Taylor Heinicke. Eventually, Ridder took the job back, but the results remained the same. In addition to quarterback struggles, Smith’s bizarre handling of the team’s last three first-round picks, tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, left people scratching their heads.
NFL News & Rumors: Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Atlanta Falcons Updates
Now, someone else will be tasked with getting the most out of that talented skill position group. Finding a quarterback to bring it all together could result in the Falcons immediately turning things around as the defense was solid in 2023 and the offensive line is a strong unit.
Could that person be Bill Belichick? Belichick’s future with the New England Patriots is up in the air, but he is widely expected to continue coaching somewhere in 2024. NFL writer Mike Sando of The Athletic has predicted that Belichick will land with the Falcons and become their next head coach.
“Belichick to Dallas is my sleeper,” another exec said, “but I’d make Atlanta the odds-on favorite for Bill, and the Chargers the odds-on favorite for Harbaugh.”
There is certainly a lot to work with in Atlanta should that be where Belichick lands. The aforementioned first-round talent on offense would excite any offensive coordinator and given Belichick’s wizardry on defense, an already stout unit could become even better.
NFL News & Rumors: Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, Atlanta Falcons Updates
While quarterback remains an issue, as it did post-Tom Brady in New England, there will be some options for the Falcons to sift through. But, can Belichick and Josh McDaniels, his presumed offensive coordinator, be trusted to make such a decision? Neither has a great track record outside of their work with Brady.
It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out between Belichick and the Patriots and where he ends up. The Falcons would be a great situation for him given what is in place. If they could address quarterback, with Sando suggesting veteran Russell Wilson, they would be NFC South favorites in 2024.
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