Falcons players talk Arthur Smith being fired

Arthur Smith was fired due to the Falcons’ disappointing 2023 campaign, in which they went a putrid 2-6 against opponents with losing records.

A lot can be placed at the feet of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, though. The quarterback play in Atlanta was absolutely pathetic and consistently held the offense back. At different points in the season, the Falcons lost games because Ridder, and it cost Arthur Smith his job.

With that being said, it was his choice to put his eggs in a third-round pick’s basket. Smith is also not free of blame for Atlanta’s shortcomings. Failing to get Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London in the offensive game plan consistently is inexcusable, and the once great run game regressed.

I’m sure Arthur Smith would like to do a few things differently, but there’s no questioning the love his players had for him. He was a player’s coach through and through; even until the end, his players showed him love.

He (Arthur Smith) said “that he’s always there and his phone is always open for us and if he can help he will,” Tre Flowers said. “I know he’ll bounce back. Winning fixes everything and the way we dropped the last couple, it doesn’t surprise me, but since he’s such a good coach, I thought he was going to get another shot. I believe in him wholeheartedly.”

The NFL is business at the end of the day, but the relationships forged are forever. It was clear the Falcons built a lasting culture, impacting everyone.

“He’ll bend over backward for the people he loves,” Jonnu Smith said. “Unfortunately sometimes this league doesn’t do the same thing in return. He’s just a hell of a person, man.”

Up and down the roster, every Falcons player had nothing but great things to say, mostly emotional ones at that.

“It’s just hard seeing a coach you respect and appreciate go,” Kaleb McGary said. “I was certainly sad to hear the news and absolutely wish him the best. I’m not involved in the front office; I don’t know what their processes are; I’m just bummed to hear the news.”

At the end of the day, it’s a results-oriented job, and Arthur Smtih fell short; Grady Jarrett knows that as well as any.

“There are so many things that go into it, so many different variables,” Jarrett said. “I don’t think it’s just one thing, but I can tell you everybody involved did their best. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to get us where we wanted to be in the postseason. It’s a business that we’re in, and it is what it is.”

Though he didn’t have the best relationship with the fans, it’s clear how his players felt about him. Arthur Smith’s tenure as the Falcons head coach is over, but he did do some good things in Atlanta.

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