
The Atlanta Falcons announced Friday they have hired former UNC offensive lineman Arthur Smith as the team’s new head coach, following two stellar years as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator.
Smith played offensive guard for the Tar Heels from 2001-2005, although foot injuries severely limited his availability to contribute in games. He began his coaching career in 2006 as a graduate assistant at UNC.
After short stints as a defensive assistant with the Washington Redskins (2007-08) and at Ole Miss (2010) in the college ranks, he joined the Titans organization in 2011 as a defensive quality control coach.
Since 2012, when he became an offensive quality control coach for Tennessee, Smith worked his way up the ladder until finally becoming the Titans’ offensive coordinator in 2019.
The Titans made an appearance in the AFC Championship Game last season and made the playoffs again this season behind an offense that ranked fourth in the NFL with 30.7 points per game.
Tennessee running back Derrick Henry also made history by becoming just the eighth player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill also saw a career resurgence under Smith, while second-year receiver A.J. Brown has blossomed into one of the league’s top players at his position.
Atlanta fired former head coach Dan Quinn — who took the team to the Super Bowl just four years ago — back in October after he failed to make the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 and started 2020 with an 0-5 record. The team would go on to finish 4-12.
Smith will inherit a roster with aging superstars like quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones, as well as the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Photo via Associated Press
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Related Stories
‹

Atlanta Falcons Give Former UNC LB Bruce Carter a One-Year Contract ExtensionFormer UNC linebacker Bruce Carter agreed Monday to sign a one-year contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons, after joining the team early in the 2018 season. Carter made 21 combined tackles for the Falcons last year, including 16 of the solo variety. A second-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys back in 2011, Carter has played […]
![]()
Tennessee Titans Sign Austin Proehl to Practice SquadAfter being released by the Buffalo Bills this past weekend–the team who drafted him in the seventh round of April’s NFL Draft–former UNC wide receiver Austin Proehl agreed Monday to join the Tennessee Titans practice squad. Proehl, the son of 16-year NFL veteran Ricky Proehl, caught 91 passes for 1,265 yards and five touchdowns during […]

Chansky's Notebook: Finally!Tuesday’s UNC football media availability, featuring four players, broke a bizarre dry spell for the program.

'An Exciting Place to Be': Bill Belichick Talks Roster Building, the House Settlement and More.UNC football head coach Bill Belichick spoke with the media Tuesday morning at the Kenan Football Center. Now in his sixth month on the job, Belichick addressed his team’s improvement during spring practice, the House v. NCAA settlement, new additions along the roster and more. Read through Belichick’s full comments, which have been lightly edited […]

Bill Belichick at UNC: The Full TimelineBill Belichick’s tenure as the UNC head football coach has been full of twists and turns since his shocking hiring to lead the program in Dec. 2024. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, the six-time Super Bowl winning head coach has attracted national attention — for both Carolina’s on-field prospects and headlines around his book tour […]

Record-Breaking Season Earns UNC's David Ford Spot on PGA Tour — And Special Video MessageDavid Ford has reached several milestones in the last month, culminating in an entry to the PGA Tour and a video message from UNC legends.

Kickoff Times, TV Networks Announced for Five UNC Football GamesWith UNC football season a few months away, we're getting new details about their 2025 schedule - including kickoff times for several games.

Chansky's Notebook: They've Got MailThe angle that won’t die is when Bill Belichick is seen with Jordon Hudson, close enough for their pictures to wind up all over social media.

UNC Football 2025 Spring Transfer Portal Window Tracker: ArrivalsThe spring window of the college football transfer portal opened Wednesday, April 16 and closed Friday, April 25. Players who intend to transfer must enter their names into the portal before the window closes, but do not need to have selected their next school by then. Here is a summary of which players have committed […]

'Turn Over Every Rock': UNC Athletics Eyeing Enhanced Football Gameday ExperienceUNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham and chief revenue officer Rick Barakat presented several potential enhancements to both Kenan Stadium and the football program’s gameday presentation to the university’s Board of Trustees Wednesday. Below are key takeaways from the presentation: Sponsorships Barakat and Cunningham also brought forth to the Board new developments with regard to UNC’s […]
›
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines