Falcons Rumors: Titans OC Arthur Smith Offered Head Coaching Job

The Atlanta Falcons have offered their head coaching job to Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.

Smith has been one of the hottest names on the coaching carousel. The Philadelphia Eagles came away from their interview with him "really impressed," per NFL reporter Derrick Gunn.

Perhaps sensing the coaching market is going to start moving rapidly after Robert Saleh, another top-tier candidate, accepted the New York Jets job, the Falcons are moving to snap up Smith.

The 38-year-old Tennessee native has 14 years of coaching experience, including 12 seasons in the NFL. At the professional level, he first worked with the Washington Football Team in the defensive quality control department in 2007 and 2008. He joined the Titans organization in 2011.

He spent the past decade working his way through the ranks with his home-state club. The Titans promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2019. After the team ranked 25th in total offense in 2018, it improved to 12th last year and second this season under his guidance.

"Arthur would do a great job [as a head coach]," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. "I've got a lot of respect for Arthur. [He] hasn't worked telephones and tried to undercut anybody. He's always come to work. I have a lot of trust in Arthur as a person, first and foremost."

Meanwhile, the Falcons are coming off three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs and posted a 4-12 record in 2020. Head coach Dan Quinn, who led the team to Super Bowl LI, was fired in October following an 0-5 start.

Smith would be expected to revitalize an offense led by quarterback Matt Ryan and one of the NFL's best wide receiver tandems, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The unit ranked 16th in points per game (24.8) in 2020.

If he accepts the Atlanta job, there would be four head coaching vacancies remaining: the Eagles, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers.