(Update 5:45 p.m.): The Atlanta Falcons officially hired Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to be their head coach, the team announced Friday evening.
Original story:
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coaching candidate Arthur Smith was reportedly offered the Falcons head coaching job, and while the team is “monitoring” Smith, the Titans offensive coordinator appears headed to Atlanta.
ESPN reported Smith was offered the job. NFL Media reported Smith has been the “focus” for the Falcons, and the “two sides have been talking.”
“The Atlanta Falcons have made an offer to Arthur Smith to become their next head coach per sources,” ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweeted Friday. “Smith has been the offensive coordinator for the Titans the last 2 seasons.”
“#Titans OC Arthur Smith has been the focus for the #Falcons and those two sides have been talking, sources say,” NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport tweeted. “His #Lions trip is now off. The #Eagles have been monitoring, but all eyes on Atlanta.”
The Eagles fired coach Doug Pederson after five seasons Monday.
Read more: Brett Favre thinks Philadelphia Eagles picked Carson Wentz over Doug Pederson
On Tuesday, ESPN reported the Eagles requested to interview Smith, who has been with the Titans since 2011. He has been the team’s offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. The Eagles interviewed Smith on Thursday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Smith, 38, is one of the top names in the current coaching cycle. During his two years as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, Smith’s units have ranked in the top 10 in points per game, and with running back Derrick Henry carrying the load, the Titans have had one of the NFL’s best rushing offenses.
Smith also helped resurrect the career of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has become one of the NFL’s most efficient passers in the team’s play-action heavy scheme. Tannehill threw for 33 touchdowns to seven interceptions with a passer rating of 106.5 in 2020. He led the NFL with a 117.5 passer rating in 2019.
Smith has a unique background. His father, Frederick W. Smith, founded FedEx, and the younger Smith attended the prestigious Georgetown Prep in suburban Washington, D.C., where he was a star offensive lineman. He played college football at North Carolina, and he immediately began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in Chapel Hill.
He was then a defensive quality control assistant for the Washington Football Team in 2007-08 and a defensive intern for Ole Miss in 2010 before he joined the Titans. In Tennessee, Smith has held a variety of roles, including defensive quality control (2011-12), offensive line/tight ends (2013), assistant tight ends coach (2014-15), tight ends coach (2016-18) and finally, offensive coordinator.
On Thursday night, the Jets announced 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, another potential Eagles candidate, had agreed to become their coach.
The Eagles are reportedly interviewing Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo and Eagles assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley on Friday for their vacant head coaching job.
Read more: Philadelphia Eagles coaching target Robert Saleh takes New York Jets job
Daniel Gallen covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PennLive. He can be reached at dgallen@pennlive.com. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Philadelphia Eagles coverage on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.