The Atlanta Falcons have found their new general manager and head coach this week.
The team will hire former New Orleans Saints front office executive Terry Fontenot, who spent the last 18 years in New Orleans. The new head coach will be former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Both Fontenot and Smith said that they will collaborate heavily in order to shape the Falcons’ roster both through the draft and in free agency. The Falcons hold the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Smith also noted that he will be calling the offensive plays as head coach, stating that he believes that Atlanta’s veteran quarterback Matt Ryan is still a “terrific quarterback” with whom the team can win.
He also said that the goal will be to play to the strengths of Atlanta’s roster instead of insisting on trying to replicate the run-heavy success that he had in Tennessee with star running back Derrick Henry leading the attack.
Fontenot interviewed with four other teams for their open general manager jobs before deciding to take the Falcons job, stating that he is already very familiar with the Falcons’ roster since Atlanta and New Orleans are division rivals that play each other twice a year.
