5 Top Candidates to Replace Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith

Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons will plot a new course, after firing Arthur Smith in the early morning hours of Black Monday.

Smith struggled mightily, particularly in 2023, finding a way to properly utilize some of the explosive weapons that form the core of Atlanta's offense. Rookie running back Bijan Robinson logged more than 15 carries just five times in 2023, while wide receiver Drake London caught just 69 passes and the Falcons limped to a 7-10 finish, falling just short of making the NFL Playoffs.

Prior to being fired, Smith finished with a meager 21-30 record while failing to reach the postseason and struggling to make any progress shepherding any steps in quarterback Desmond Ridder's development.

Thanks to an owner who is not afraid to spend big, a state-of-the-art stadium, and some exciting young talent on a roster with approximately $36 million in cap space to continue building, the Falcons should be an attractive destination for potential head coaching candidates.

Here's a look at five reasonable candidates as the Falcons' next head coach, replacing Smith:

Kalen DeBoer, Washington Huskies Head Coach

Kalen DeBoer may be a darkhorse candidate, but he might also be an ideal fit for what the Falcons are trying to build. DeBoer guided the Washington Huskies to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game while forging a 10-0 record against top-25 competition and helping guide quarterback Michael Penix Jr. into the Heisman conversation in 2023.

The Huskies' aggressiveness is a reflection of DeBoer's demeanor, and he has shown an ability to build his scheme around the players on his roster, which would be welcomed in Atlanta. It might require a blank check from Blank to pry the 49-year-old away from what he's built in Seattle, but it could also be the kind of bold move capable of vaulting the Falcons to the forefront of the NFC South.

Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator

Head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans' turnaround from perennial doormat to AFC South champion on the ascent thanks to a rookie quarterback playing his way into the MVP conversation is a blueprint the Falcons may want to replicate.

Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has been instrumental in C.J. Stroud's instant success at the NFL level, and wide receiver Nico Collins finished the season as the league's eighth-leading receiver in 2023. Given the personnel that the Falcons have in place, and the No. 8 overall pick that could be leveraged in a possible trade up to go and get a franchise quarterback, Slowik might be the most realistic name to get the most out of Atlanta's weapons and to develop a young passer.

Mike MacDonald, Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator

In an era where offensive-minded head coaches are all the rage, and teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers will likely lean in that direction for their head coaching hires based on their quarterback situation, the Falcons might be positioned to hire the most coveted defensive coordinator this cycle.

Baltimore has built a defensive juggernaut, and coordinator Mike MacDonald's scheme might be the next one emulated in buildings across the league. At 36 years old, MacDonald has learned under one of the game's most consistently successful head coaches, John Harbaugh, and he could import a lot of the influences of a consistently competitive program to Atlanta. Both could be attractive to Blank.

Eric Bienemy, Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator

Is it finally Eric Bienemy's time? Bienemy's sojourn away from the comforts of Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs might not have gone as well as expected in the nation's capital, but he could be a fit if the Falcons lean into hiring an offensive-minded head coach. Bienemy's scheme could maximize the impact of Drake's explosiveness in the vertical passing game, and he could be a welcomed voice when it comes to developing a young potential franchise quarterback.

Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator

Brian Flores might be more popular with his players than he is with NFL power brokers given the fact that he is still litigating a discrimination lawsuit against the league. However, the Vikings' turnaround on defense turned some heads in 2023, and given some of the exciting young players on the defensive side of the ball in Atlanta, Flores' hyper-aggressive and pressure-oriented scheme might be exactly what is needed to elevate that unit to the next level.

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