ATLANTA — Following an 0-5 start to the 2020 NFL season, the Atlanta Falcons have made the decision to fire general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn.
On Sunday, Atlanta Falcons owner and CEO Arthur Blank made the decision after the Falcons 23-16 loss to NFC South division rival Carolina Panthers.
Blank spoke on the decision saying, “Decisions like these are very difficult, but the previous two seasons and start to this one have been especially hard for me because of the deep love, admiration, and respect I and my family have for Dan, Thomas and their families,” said Blank. “For many years, they have represented me, our team, organization, and Atlanta with class, commitment, and all the passion you would want in the leaders of the team. But as everyone knows, this is a results business and I owe it to our fans to put the best product we can on the field. We have poured every resource possible into winning and will continue to do so, but the results of late do not meet our standard or what I’ve promised our fans. Therefore, we will install new coaching and personnel leadership of the Atlanta Falcons at the appropriate time.”
The Falcons struggled in 2019, starting 3-9 before winning the final four regular-season games to finish the year with a 7-9 record. Blank spoke about the momentum from 2019 saying, “Our finish in 2019 earned an opportunity to show that momentum could be continued and built upon, but that has clearly not happened,” He continued. “And overall, the last 3-plus seasons have fallen short of my commitment to Atlanta and to our fans everywhere. I want them all to know that my commitment to winning has not wavered and I will continue to provide every resource possible to that end.”
Thomas Dimitroff joined the Falcons in 2008 and played a key role in the success Atlanta had has since his arrival. The Falcons won 109 games, making the playoff six times and winning an NFC Championship in 2016 during his tenure as the GM. Dimitroff drafted Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Jake Matthews, Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones, and numerous others who have helped the Falcons become one of the winningest teams in the NFL over the last 10 seasons.
Dan Quinn was hired by Thomas Dimitroff in 2015, amassing a 43-42 record as the head coach. Quinn led the Falcons to an NFC Championship over the Green Bay Packers in 2016. The Falcons made the playoffs again in 2017, but back-to-back 7-9 seasons in 2018 and 2019 and an 0-5 start to 2020 resulted in Arthur Blank’s decision to make the change.
As for potential replacements for the head coaching vacancy, Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has been promoted to interim head coach and will have his opportunity to showcase himself for the position. Outside of the organization, popular targets include Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, University of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
I’d like to include an honorable mention target to Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady. At just 31 years old, he’s still considered very young. However, he impressed as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach with the LSU Tigers on their way to a national championship last year, and his offensive creativity has been impressive with the Panthers in his first season as offensive coordinator in Carolina. LA Rams head coach Sean McVay, also known for his offensive mind, became the head coach at age 30, so there is now a precedent for hiring a young head coach. Whether Arthur Blank and whomever they hire as the GM take that risk remains to be seen.
Speaking of the GM vacancy, Arthur Blank stated that the hire would have full control of roster decisions, making the job an interesting opening despite a difficult salary cap situation. Targets are a little more difficult to identify out of the gate, but popular targets should include current ESPN analyst and former Eagles and Redskins scouting director Louis Riddick, Baltimore Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz, Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel Scott Fitterer, and Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Dan Morgan.
Atlanta will their due diligence on these important decisions but kept the door open on potentially hiring their head coach before their GM if the right opportunity presents itself.
As for the current 2020 team, interim head coach Raheem Morris will lead the Falcons into Minnesota to take on the Vikings on Sunday.
