NFL’s Black Monday: Falcons fire head coach Arthur Smith, Commanders’ Ron Rivera dismissed

After finishing his third consecutive losing season with the Falcons, Arthur Smith—who took over a rebuilding project in his first NFL head coaching position and was unable to end Atlanta’s playoff drought—was dismissed late on Sunday night. Smith, 41, who is the son of FedEx pioneer Fred Smith, had a 21-30 record at the end. Every year, he traveled 7–10.

Smith was fired following his team’s second-worst performance of the season, a 48-17 loss at New Orleans that was only eclipsed by a 43-3 blowout at Dallas in 2021. The Falcons have lost four of their past five games and were thoroughly outclassed in Smith’s final two outings, falling to Chicago 37-17 one week ago. Since the Falcons’ previous postseason participation in 2017, they have had six straight losing seasons.

After the team arrived back in Atlanta, Smith met with owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay. The firing was announced shortly after midnight, the first of what is expected to be several coaching changes around the NFL on “Black Monday.”

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” said Blank, the 81-year-old owner who now begins the search for the sixth full-time head coach of his two-plus decades as the Falcons’ owner.

The franchise that joined the league in 1966 is still seeking its first Super Bowl championship. Blank and McKay will lead the coaching search with input from general manager Terry Fontenot, who is keeping his job after also being hired ahead of the 2021 season.

The expectations on Smith grew immensely this season, with Blank making it clear he expected nothing less than the team’s first trip to the playoffs since 2017 after a free-agent spending spree to improve the defence and using three straight top-10 draft picks on offensive playmakers Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson.

Some players spoke out in support of Smith.

“I absolutely love coach Smith,” offensive guard Chris Lindstrom said. “I know we didn’t win the games that we’re supposed to this year. But I think the foundation of what this locker room is, there’s a lot of great things to come.”

Washington GM Mayhew also expected to leave

As they rebranded the NFL team they acquired last year, the Washington Commanders sacked head coach Ron Rivera, the first of many anticipated actions.

The season-ending 38-10 home loss to division opponent Dallas by the Commanders was the day before the decision was made.

Controlling owner Josh Harris issued a statement saying, “As we look ahead, we recognize the results this season were not good enough and a strategic shift in leadership and approach is necessary.”

Harris said he has asked co-owners Mitch Rales, Magic Johnson and David Blitzer as well as former NBA executive Bob Myers and ex-Minnesota GM Rick Spielman to work with him in the searches for a head of football personnel and coach. After Dan Snyder four years ago hired Rivera to do both jobs, ownership is now splitting those responsibilities.

Myers served as president of basketball operations and GM of the Golden State Warriors as they won four championships, and he was named the league’s executive of the year twice.

General manager Martin Mayhew and most of the front office and coaching staff are also expected to go, as Harris and his fellow owners begin shaping the organization less than six months after buying the team from Snyder.

During Rivera’s four seasons leading Washington’s football operations, the team earned one postseason appearance, winning a very weak NFC East at 7-9 in 2020. He never enjoyed a successful season.

In a statement issued by the team, Rivera said, “We did win an NFC East title in 2020, but we fell short since then, and for that, I am truly disappointed.” “It wasn’t easy and there is a lot more to be done, but I believe we began to change the culture of this organization in meaningful ways.”

If Rivera does not get another head job in the league, he’ll finish exactly one game under .500 at 102-103-2 in the regular season. Washington was 26-40-1 with Rivera in charge.

“Ron helped navigate this organization through some challenging times,” Harris said. “He is a good man and a thoughtful leader who has positively contributed to this organization and the NFL.”

Players lauded his conduct throughout his final season, with receiver Terry McLaurin saying Rivera never brought a bad attitude and defensive tackle Daron Payne praising the coach’s optimism.

“It was a true honor to play for him,” offensive lineman Sam Cosmi said. “He really cared about us.”

Panthers went 14-37 under Fitterer

A general manager and head coach are now required by the Carolina Panthers. One day after finishing with an NFL-worst 2-15 record, the Panthers announced on Monday that they had fired General Manager Scott Fitterer.

“I have decided that Scott Fitterer will not be our general manager going forward as we move forward with the new direction for our franchise,” stated Panthers owner David Tepper in a statement. “I appreciate Scott’s efforts and wish the best for him and his family.”

Fitterer joined the team in 2021 and the Panthers have gone 14-37 since. Tepper previously fired head coach Frank Reich just 11 games into his first season after the team started 1-10.

Fitterer worked with the Chicago Bears to arrange a trade last season that sent wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks, including the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, to the Panthers, enabling them to move up to the No. 1 spot and get quarterback Bryce Young.

The Panthers’ decision has been heavily criticized for not working out, especially in light of the success of C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick and front-runner for rookie of the year, who has the Houston Texans playing in the playoffs in just his first season. Running back Miles Sanders and tight end Hayden Hurst, two of Fitterer’s top free agent recruits from the previous offseason, were huge busts in 2023.

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