The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter joins CineSport’s Noah Coslov to react to the Falcons firing head coach Mike Smith and retaining GM Thomas Dimitroff, and to talk about head coaching candidates.
The Falcons have already started their coaching search.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
They have requested permission to interview Denver offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Detroit defensive coordinator Terry Austin.
Falcons president Rich McKay believes the new hire will come into a much different situation than what Mike Smith inherited.
“The franchise was really de-stabilized,” McKay said. “The franchise quarterback, who was the hero of the town was gone. The coach left. We were in a really tough spot.”
Smith emerged as the leading candidate and was hired to his first head-coaching position.
“He can’t get enough credit for a building that was really challenged, from a player side and organizational side,” McKay said. “Through his leadership and who he is, he really helped us create an environment that we are all happy to work in.”
The Falcons believe the new coach can build off of the foundation that Smith helped to create.
“We’ll look at different qualities since the foundation is very good and this person is not coming into a destabilized situation,” McKay said. “They are coming into a pretty good situation.
“We are very confident that we can compete for championships very quickly.”
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