Arthur Smith is out in Atlanta after three seasons.
Their loss to the Saints tonight eliminated them from playoff contention, and the team announced the decision shortly thereafter.
The Falcons finished 7-10 in each of his three seasons in charge, leaving him with a 21-30 mark overall.
"Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good," team owner Arthur Blank shared in a statement tonight.
"We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations. After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position."
There was a tense interaction involving Smith following the loss tonight.
In the game's waning moments, the Saints lined up in a victory formation, looking like they would take a knee to end the game. Instead, they handed it to one of the personal protectors, who snuck in for a score to pile on one final touchdown to push the final score to 48-17.
During the customary handshake between head coaches, there was a clearly tense situation between Smith and Dennis Allen as Smith could be seen passionately voicing his frustration.
Needless to say, the handshake between the two never took place. See that interaction below.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.