One of the most confusing aspects of the Falcons organization is Rich McKay and his role with the team.
McKay was the GM of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1994-2003, where he experienced a lot of success and helped them to a Super Bowl in 2003. Disagreements between him and Jon Gruden led to his dismissal following the Super Bowl victory. Free to join whichever team he pleased, he was hired by the Atlanta Falcons to be their general manager.
Unfortunately, McKay’s reign in Atlanta wasn’t nearly as successful as his time in Tampa Bay. The Falcons did reach the NFC Championship in his first season, falling to the Eagles. They would miss the playoffs the next three years, however, leading Arthur Blank to hire Thomas Dimitroff to be the next general manager of the Falcons. Despite that, McKay remained with the organization as the team’s president. This is where his role with the team started to become murky.
According to the now-retired Jeff Schultz, a man who is as plugged in as any when it comes to the Falcons, McKay was fired as GM when the Falcons hired Dimitroff and Dan Quinn, but Blank kept him close so McKay would help him build a new stadium in Atlanta. When that was finished, McKay wanted back into football operations. With Thomas Dimitroff on his way out the door at this time, Blank apparently said yes. Now, despite Terry Fontenot being named the general manager, it is indeed Rich McKay that holds the power.
Background: Blank effectively fired McKay as GM when the Falcons hired Dimitroff/Quinn. Blank retained McKay for his league ties and to help get new stadium built. After MBS deal was done, McKay asked back into football ops. Blank said yes. McKay eventually regained power. https://t.co/AsGgOZznWi
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) January 22, 2024
All of this became overwhelmingly evident when Arthur Smith was fired. Following the news, the Falcons held a press conference to announce the decision and discuss the direction of the franchise. Arthur Blank and Rich McKay were present, but Terry Fontenot was not. The two said Fontenot would have a say in the hiring of the next head coach, but a curtain was unveiled, showing the power structure in Atlanta.
Schultz went on to say Rich McKay’s role in the organization has always been viewed negatively by potential head coach and general manager candidates. Whether that is true for Belichick, who is the presumed frontrunner for the Falcons’ vacant head coaching position, Schultz could not confirm.
I've intentionally stayed away from direct reporting on this but I can confirm some have considered Rich McKay's presence to be a potential obstacle in past GM/coach searches He returned to high-profile spot in football ops 3-4 years ago. I can't confirm Belichick's viewpoint. https://t.co/Ya0O35KQZ7
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) January 22, 2024
About a week ago, Mike Florio reported that a source within the team predicted, “Belichick would take the job only if McKay is completely frozen out of football operations.”
It makes sense — whether you want Bill Belichick to be the next head coach of the Falcons or not — that Belichick would refuse to come to Atlanta if Rich McKay still has his hands on the controls of the organization. Belichick just came from a place in New England where he had complete autonomy over personnel decisions for nearly two decades. Perhaps that isn’t a demand for him wherever he coaches next, but he’s certainly not going to want to report to a general manager and Rich McKay. No coach with an experienced track record would, which is really the bigger issue.
Rich McKay has done nothing but hold the Falcons organization back for years. For whatever reason, Arthur Blank has kept him around for this long, and if he continues to have his say in football operations, it’s hard to see the Falcons making the right decision when it comes to hiring their next head coach.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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