Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons star Matt Ryan may not roll out the red carpet, but he won't give a rookie quarterback the cold shoulder if the team targets that position early in the 2021 NFL draft.

Ryan said Wednesday on 680 The Fan in Atlanta: "Part of being a team is you're going to be a good teammate and help where you can, and you also have the personal responsibility of trying to be the best player you can be. ... My personality is not to be standoffish with anybody else."

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the general expectation is for Ryan to remain in Atlanta for the 2021 season:

Just as the Detroit Lions have lined up a trade sending Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, many wondered whether the Falcons hiring a new head coach (Arthur Smith) and general manager (Terry Fontenot) would coincide with an overall reset. That would mean building around a new, younger quarterback.

Ryan's contract makes moving him unfeasible this offseason, though. Per Spotrac, trading him before June 1 would trigger $44.4 million in dead money and cost $3.5 million in salary-cap space.

The financial hit is a little less harsh with a post-June 1 trade ($23 million in cap savings and dead money of $17.9 million in 2021 and $26.5 million in 2022). By then, teams will probably have their quarterback situations settled.

That sets up what could potentially be a tricky dynamic if the Falcons front office and coaching staff do in fact want to use the No. 4 pick on a signal-caller. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks projected Atlanta to select BYU star Zach Wilson.

The Green Bay Packers have so far avoided any major drama stemming from their decision to trade up and take Jordan Love in the 2020 draft. Aaron Rodgers reached out to Love shortly after the first round, and he didn't go out of his way to make the rookie's life difficult.

Ryan doesn't necessarily have to like the decision if the Falcons' mimic Green Bay's succession plan, but it's important he accepts the outcome. And it appears the 35-year-old is willing to do just that.

And if a high-profile QB does arrive this offseason, Ryan has a strong incentive to perform well to impress any possible trade suitors.

The Atlanta Falcons aren't looking to move Matt Ryan or Julio Jones, and "every expectation" is the two stars will remain with the team to open the 2021 season, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Pelissero cited the salary-cap implications to trading Ryan or Jones as one reason they're likely to stay put:

According to Spotrac, trading Ryan before June 1 would force Atlanta to carry $44.4 million in dead money. Waiting until after June 1 would spread that money across 2021 and 2022 while saving the team $23 million. Ryan's trade market may have dried up by that point in the offseason, though.

The situation isn't as bad with Jones but still not really feasible. Offloading him would trigger a $23.3 million dead-money hit.

Many wondered whether the Falcons would look to wipe slate clean this offseason after having fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. Team owner Arthur Blank told reporters in January he'd allow Quinn and Dimitroff's replacements some latitude about how to handle the two franchise stalwarts:

"What I think is important, most important, is that we hire people who are, number one, the very best at their jobs. That goes without saying. Who will come forward with a plan for us to have a championship team, a competitive team, et cetera. And that may include Matt and Julio for now, for the next two years, three years, or may not. I have no idea."

The Falcons announced the hiring of Arthur Smith as head coach on Jan. 16. During an interview with The MMQB's Albert Breer on Jan. 31, Smith was similarly coy when discussing Ryan and Jones:

"It's hard, until we get all the facts, and [general manager Terry Fontenot] and I go through the roster and map out, 'Here's what we want to do in the short-term, long-term.' Obviously we've got to deal with the salary cap that's here. And there's some good pieces, but there are gonna be some decisions we've got to make going forward that may not affect 2021, but could affect the future, 2022, 2023 and on. That's going to be a long process before we even get to free agents, figuring out what we want to do with this current roster."

Ryan and Jones continue to play at reasonably high levels. Ryan threw for 4,581 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2020. Jones caught 51 passes for 771 yards and three touchdowns, but he was limited to only nine appearances because of hamstring problems. His 85.1 receiving yards per game were seventh-highest in the league.

Atlanta hasn't had a winning season since 2017, so upgrades are clearly needed for the roster. Ryan and Jones can still have a role to play to help the Falcons return to the postseason.

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are two of the greatest players in Atlanta Falcons history, but their future with the franchise remains uncertain.

Speaking to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said the organization is still in the process of going over the roster to determine the best path forward:

"No decision with personnel has been made right now. It's just so early. ... We're just not gonna make any snap judgments. There is a long process. We've got to get in here with staffs. We've got to go through every guy on this roster. And we're gonna take our time. There's no decision that has to be made today. And that's for everybody, it's not Matt and Julio, it's every player on this roster."

The status of Ryan and Jones has been a subject of speculation going back to the regular season. Team owner Arthur Blank told reporters earlier this month that he wouldn't stand in the way of the front office if they wanted to move either one of the franchise stalwarts. 

Terry Fontenot was hired as Atlanta's general manager on Tuesday. The 40-year-old spent the past 18 seasons working with the New Orleans Saints. He was their assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel in 2020 after seven seasons as director of pro personnel. 

Smith takes over as Falcons head coach after spending the past two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. 

Ryan and Jones have sizable contracts that could make them difficult to move. Ryan has a $40.9 million cap hit in 2021. Jones comes with a $23.05 million cap figure next season. Both players are signed through the 2023 season. 

Injuries limited Jones to nine games last season, but he still finished with 771 receiving yards on 51 receptions. Ryan led the NFL with 407 completions and 626 attempts. The 35-year-old finished fourth in the league with 4,581 passing yards and tied for 12th with 26 touchdowns. 

The Falcons finished last in the NFC South for the first time since 2007 with a 4-12 record.

The Atlanta Falcons have found their new defensive coordinator.

Atlanta announced it hired former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees, 71, for the position.

ESPN's Dianna Russini noted new Falcons head coach Arthur Smith convinced Pees to come out of retirement for the job.

Smith is the former offensive coordinator of the Titans.

The Falcons were just 4-12 in 2020 and missed the playoffs for the third straight year, in large part because of their defensive struggles.

They were 29th in the league in total yards allowed and 19th in points allowed and struggled to keep up in a strong division that also featured the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That Pees will be the one to lead them is notable because his retirement lasted approximately one year. The Titans announced he retired in January 2020 following a 47-year coaching career, and he told reporters he wanted to spend more time with his family after so long in the NFL ranks.

Still, he will return to the sidelines for a new team and add to a resume that includes stops as the defensive coordinator of the Toledo Rockets, Michigan State Spartans, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.

He was also the head coach of the Kent State Golden Flashes.

The Falcons will have no shortage of experience with Pees leading their defense, and they will look to make the necessary strides to compete for the playoffs in the daunting NFC South.

The Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday morning that Terry Fontenot has been hired as their new general manager.

Fontenot provided his reaction in the Falcons' announcement:

"With the Atlanta Falcons, I have found the perfect opportunity for my family's next steps. I feel honored and thankful that Arthur Blank and Rich McKay have given me this privilege and I look forward to working alongside the two of them, Arthur Smith and our entire organization as we strive together to reach our competitive goals and give our fans the performances they deserve. My family and I are thrilled to make our new home in Atlanta and look forward to meeting our fellow Falcon fans."

Arthur Blank, the Falcons owner and chairman, also released a statement on Fontenot's hiring:

"In his past positions, he has shown the ability to make strong decisions and judgments that result in championship-caliber teams, while also understanding a variety of viewpoints and respecting a collaborative process throughout. Landing a leader of Terry's stature, I believe our organization, players, fans and community will have confidence in our approach throughout this process as I am certain Terry will represent them and the expectations they have to a high level."

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported Sunday that Fontenot was expected to be hired.

Fontenot replaces Thomas Dimitroff, who was fired in October along with head coach Dan Quinn after the Falcons got off to an 0-5 start. He is potentially the second member of the New Orleans Saints organization to leave on the heels of their 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Schefter reported the Detroit Lions are expected to hire Dan Campbell, New Orleans' assistant head coach and tight ends coach, as their next head coach.

Fontenot has spent the entirety of his professional career with the Saints, where he began as a marketing intern before he adopted a similar job with the scouting department. He rose to pro scouting assistant and player personnel assistant roles before he began a seven-year stint as a pro scout. 

He was promoted to his current role of vice president/assistant general manager this season following time spent as the director of pro scouting. 

During his time with the Saints, the team has brought in stars such as Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore and Mark Ingram II while producing 63 Pro Bowl selections and a 2009 Super Bowl championship.

Arthur Smith will be the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after the team named him to the role Friday:

The 38-year-old spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, molding the unit into one of the best in the NFL. The Titans finished 2020 ranked fourth in points scored and second in yards from scrimmage, mostly behind one of the top rushing attacks in football.

Smith has spent the past 10 years in Tennessee, working his way up from a defensive quality control coach to one of the top coordinators in the game.

He will now take on a new challenge as a first-time head coach.

The Falcons are coming off a disappointing 2020 season, with their 4-12 record representing the organization's worst mark since 2013.

It was the third straight losing season for Atlanta, which is a sharp decline after reaching the Super Bowl following the 2016 season.

Things continued to get worse in 2020, beginning with a 0-5 record before Dan Quinn was fired in October. Raheem Morris took over and helped make the team respectable, but he still couldn't produce a winning record.

The defense was one of the worst in the NFL, especially defending the pass, while the squad suffered some brutal losses in winnable games.

There is still a lot of upside on the roster, including a reliable quarterback in place with Matt Ryan. Weapons such as Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley could make this offense one of the best in the NFL if it can find some balance.

Defensively, there are quality pieces led by defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and rookie first-round pick A.J. Terrell at cornerback. Some more additions could have the team reaching expectations and returning to contention in the NFC South.

If Smith can improve the culture and get the most out of the talent on the roster, the Falcons could be in for a quick turnaround in 2021.

The Atlanta Falcons have offered their head coaching job to Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.

Smith has been one of the hottest names on the coaching carousel. The Philadelphia Eagles came away from their interview with him "really impressed," per NFL reporter Derrick Gunn.

Perhaps sensing the coaching market is going to start moving rapidly after Robert Saleh, another top-tier candidate, accepted the New York Jets job, the Falcons are moving to snap up Smith.

The 38-year-old Tennessee native has 14 years of coaching experience, including 12 seasons in the NFL. At the professional level, he first worked with the Washington Football Team in the defensive quality control department in 2007 and 2008. He joined the Titans organization in 2011.

He spent the past decade working his way through the ranks with his home-state club. The Titans promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2019. After the team ranked 25th in total offense in 2018, it improved to 12th last year and second this season under his guidance.

"Arthur would do a great job [as a head coach]," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters. "I've got a lot of respect for Arthur. [He] hasn't worked telephones and tried to undercut anybody. He's always come to work. I have a lot of trust in Arthur as a person, first and foremost."

Meanwhile, the Falcons are coming off three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs and posted a 4-12 record in 2020. Head coach Dan Quinn, who led the team to Super Bowl LI, was fired in October following an 0-5 start.

Smith would be expected to revitalize an offense led by quarterback Matt Ryan and one of the NFL's best wide receiver tandems, Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. The unit ranked 16th in points per game (24.8) in 2020.

If he accepts the Atlanta job, there would be four head coaching vacancies remaining: the Eagles, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers.

New Orleans Saints vice president, assistant general manager and director of pro scouting Terry Fontenot is reportedly the favorite to become the next general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "signs point" to Fontenot being the next GM of the Falcons, although nothing will become official until the Saints are out of the playoffs.

If Fontenot does land the job, he will replace Thomas Dimitroff, who was Atlanta's GM from 2008 until his firing during the 2020 season along with head coach Dan Quinn.

Fontenot has spent 16 seasons in the Saints organization, including the past six as the director of pro scouting.

Per the Saints' official website, Fontenot's responsibilities include "recommending player acquisitions by evaluating players from all professional leagues, including the Saints roster, monitoring the waiver wire and supervising the advance scouting of upcoming opponents."

The Saints have enjoyed a great deal of success during Fontenot's tenure, winning seven NFC South titles and reaching the playoffs nine times. That includes winning the Super Bowl to conclude the 2009 season.

New Orleans has made it to the postseason in each of the past four campaigns and is set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs on Sunday.

Fontenot also has playing experience, as he spent four years as a safety at Tulane from 1999-2002, becoming a team captain in 2001.

If Fontenot lands the Falcons job, he will have some work ahead of him, as Atlanta has missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and went just 4-12 this season, marking the franchise's worst record since going 4-12 in 2013.

The Falcons aren't far removed from reaching the Super Bowl, though, as they played for a championship in 2016 and held a 28-3 lead only to lose to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in heartbreaking fashion.

Fontenot would take over a defense that needs a lot of work and an offense that has no shortage of talent with quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley leading the way.

The Falcons are set to pick fourth overall in the 2021 NFL draft, meaning they could be in line to add a huge piece to a defense or offensive line that desperately needs it.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home venue for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and MLS' Atlanta United, will serve as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution center.

Steve Cannon, CEO of stadium operator AMB Sports and Entertainment, announced the partnership with the Fulton County Board of Health on Wednesday.

"This is a time for our communities to unite together and do what's right for our citizens," Cannon said. "Mercedes-Benz Stadium offers the opportunity to socially distance while servicing large numbers of people at once. We are honored to be a part of this solution and will do it as long as possible to serve our community."

Further details about vaccine availability at the 71,000-seat stadium will be released in the coming weeks as health officials "discuss how to expand the operation in order to serve more residents as quick as possible."

"Partnerships are essential to public health," Fulton County Board of Health district health director Lynn Paxton said. "These types of collaborations result in positive health outcomes as they ensure the quality and accessibility of health services to our community."

Mercedes-Benz Stadium previously served as one of the host sites for early voting during Georgia's runoff Senate elections earlier this month.

The Falcons finished their 2020 season Jan. 3, and their last home game was Dec. 20. Details about Atlanta United's 2021 campaign haven't been released.

While the partnership is scheduled to run through March, the announcement notes there's an option to extend it "as needed."

Vaccination at the stadium will be available by appointment only once details are announced.

The Atlanta Falcons could find their next general manager from a division rival.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, New Orleans Saints vice president/assistant general manager of pro personnel Terry Fontenot is considered one of "two or three finalists" for the Falcons GM job.

Fontenot has been with the Saints since 2003, beginning as a scout before working his way up to Director of Pro Scouting and eventually assistant GM.

The Denver Broncos previously interviewed Fontenot for their general manager role, while the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions also showed interest, per Albert Breer of The MMQB.

Woody Paige of the Gazette recently predicted the Broncos would hire either Fontenot or Champ Kelly.

It appears there could be a fight for the executive, who has helped the Saints produce four straight seasons of at least 11 regular-season wins.

"He's had a hand in building one of the most successful franchises in the NFL these last four seasons, and his chance to run a shop of his own is long overdue," Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Advocate told the Broncos official site.

The Falcons are looking for some stability in the front office after three straight losing seasons, finishing 2020 as one of the worst teams in the NFL at 4-12.

While the massive interest around the league indicates the Saints will likely lose Fontenot to another team this year, the organization could be rewarded for grooming a minority candidate. As Schefter noted, a new rule created this year will give two compensatory third-round draft picks to any team that loses a minority candidate that goes onto become a head coach or general manager.