Arthur Smith is headed to the college level.
According to multiple reports, Smith is finalizing a deal to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Smith, 42, had received interest from the Cardinals and Titans for their dad coaching vacancies this month. He was also up for at least one offensive coordinator role in the league.
But Smith instead will head to the college level, where he’ll work under head coach Ryan Day. Smith joins another former NFL head coach on staff, as Matt Patricia is the program’s current defensive coordinator.
Smith had spent most of his career with Tennessee before becoming Atlanta’s head coach in 2021. The Falcons went 7-10 in each of Smith’s three seasons.
This is not Smith’s first college coaching job, as he began his career as a graduate assistant for North Carolina before heading to Ole Missin 2010 as a defensive intern/administrative assistant.
The Falcons’ search for a new General Manager is set to take several steps forward on Friday.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that the team will hold four interviews with candidates for the position. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas, and Chiefs assistant GM Mike Bradway will all be meeting with the team.
Cunningham and Williams interviewed with the team for their president of football job before Matt Ryan was hired earlier this month.
The Falcons interviewed Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl and Texans assistant GM James Liipfert on Thursday. There have not been any reports of other candidates in the mix, so the team’s hire may be coming soon.
The Falcons have completed another interview for their General Manager position.
They announced that they have met with Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl. They also interviewed Texans assistant GM James Liipfert earlier in the day.
Weidl has been with the Steelers since the 2022 season. He was previously the vice president of player personnel for the Eagles and worked as a scout for the Steelers before joining the Eagles in 2016.
The Falcons have also requested interviews with Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams and Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the GM Joe Douglas.
With Matt Ryan installed as president of football and Kevin Stefanski at head coach, the Falcons have moved on to their search for a new General Manager.
That process includes a candidate who has held the job for another team in the past. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that they have requested an interview with Eagles senior personnel director/advisor to the GM Joe Douglas.
Douglas joined the Eagles last year and was fired as the Jets’ GM during the 2024 season. Douglas had been in that job since 2019 and he also worked for the Eagles before getting the job with the Jets.
The Falcons interviewed Texans assistant GM James Liipfert for the job on Thursday.
The Falcons announced some new additions to their coaching staff as well as some staff members that new head coach Kevin Stefanksi is retaining.
The team officially named Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator. They have hired Jacqueline Roberts as manager of coaching operations.
The Falcons are retaining senior defensive assistant Dave Huxtable, assistant offensive line coach Nick Jones and running backs coach Michael Pitre.
Rees joins the Falcons after two seasons with the Browns, where he served as the team’s tight ends coach/pass game specialist in 2024 before being promoted to offensive coordinator before the 2025 season.
Rees assumed play-calling duties from Stefanski in Week 10 last season.
Roberts joins the Falcons after spending the past two seasons with the Browns. She originally joined the club as a team logistics intern in 2024, before being promoted to coordinator of coaching logistics in 2025. Roberts also assisted with coaching operations at the 2025 Senior Bowl.
