AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

7hTurron Davenport

Arthur Smith brings optimism, but the Falcons will need patient approach

Smith brings impressive credentials to Atlanta, but with several key veterans facing uncertain futures, a quick turnaround could be a challenge.

Falcons hire Arthur Smith as head coach (1:23)

AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

8hTurron Davenport

Smith reaches deal to become Falcons' coach

Arthur Smith, who has served as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans the past two seasons, has agreed to terms with the Falcons to be the team's new head coach.

Divisional Round Preview: Can Drew Brees take down Tom Brady a 3rd time?

The NFL Live crew previews and makes game picks for the upcoming weekends Divisional Round. Could Tom Brady and the Bucs make it past Drew Brees and the Saints? Who will win the battle between Jalen Ramsey and Devante Adams? And can Urban Meyer be the man to turn things around in Jacksonville?

George Walker IV/The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK

7hJeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano

Grading NFL head coach hires: What we think of the moves by the Falcons, Jets and Jaguars

Arthur Smith to the Falcons, Robert Saleh to the Jets, and Urban Meyer to the Jaguars. Here's what our experts think of the hires.

Falcons offer former Titans OC Smith head coach position (0:49)

14h

George Walker IV/Tennessean.com via Imagn

18hTurron Davenport

Sources: Falcons offer Smith head-coaching job

The Atlanta Falcons have made an offer to Arthur Smith to become their next head coach, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.

Adam Schefter ESPN Senior Writer

Former Falcons' HC Dan Quinn and the Cowboys reach agreement for him to become Dallas' defensive coordinator, per source.

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

5dJeremy Fowler

NFL overhaul tiers: Which teams will look most different in 2021?

From franchises that will tear it all down to those that just need a few tweaks, here are the offseason priorities for every team no longer playing.

Illustration by Ben Kirchner

5dESPN staff

Who should coach the Texans, Eagles and Chargers? Try our NFL head coach carousel

Which candidate is the perfect match for each of the seven vacancies? Pair Marvin Lewis, Eric Bieniemy, Robert Saleh and more with a team.

Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire

6dAdam Schefter

Sources: Saints' Fontenot finalist for Falcons GM

Terry Fontenot, the Saints' vice president/assistant GM of pro personnel, is one of "two or three finalists" for the Falcons GM job, league sources told ESPN.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

7dJeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano

Latest buzz on NFL head coach and GM openings: Everything we're hearing

Is Urban Meyer the favorite for the Jacksonville job? Could Eric Bieniemy get passed over again? Who's in line for the six GM openings?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

7dMichael DiRocco

Who are the Falcons talking to fill their head-coaching, GM openings?

The Falcons have been busy, having finished or scheduled interviews with eight candidates each for their open head-coaching and GM jobs.

AP Photo/Steven Senne

8dNFL Nation

Best fit for Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy? A look at the five teams with which he's interviewed

Bieniemy interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets this week.

Mike Triplett ESPN Staff Writer

Here are the opponents for the Atlanta Falcons for the 2021 regular season: Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions. Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers.

Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports

11d

Veteran QB Schaub retires after 16 seasons

Veteran quarterback Matt Schaub, 39, is retiring after 16 seasons in the NFL.

12d

Brady throws for 4 TDs, Bucs pull away from Falcons 44-27

— Tom Brady threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns Sunday, helping the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch the fifth seed in the NFC with a 44-27 regular season-ending win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

13dESPN

Can Bucs put together complete game in playoff tuneup vs. Falcons?

What are the Bucs playing for? With a win against Atlanta or a Rams loss, Tampa Bay will secure the NFC's top wild-card seeding.

John Griffin/Icon Sportswire

18dKelly Cohen

When teams' social media feeds got real, made friends and started beefing

It wasn't long ago that a team's social media feed was schedules, brief news and maybe some photos. Those days are gone. They have personalities now. The people behind the avatars are trying to bring the Twitter and Instagram feeds to life.

Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports

16dMichael DiRocco

Three Falcons whose futures will be a priority for the cash-strapped new regime

Once the Falcons hire a new GM and coach, they must make decisions on the futures of Todd Gurley, Keanu Neal and Younghoe Koo.

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

18dAdam Teicher

Are Falcons closer to being a contender than their 4-11 record suggests?

"The biggest takeaway is that we can play with anybody," Raheem Morris said of the 17-14 loss to the 14-1 Chiefs. "I think we are close. "

19d

First Take hour 1: Baker Mayfield and the Browns lose to the lowly Jets

Domonique Foxworth, Ryan Clark and Dan Orlovsky debate, why the Browns couldn't beat the Jets, if the Chiefs are a lock for the Super Bowl and which team will win the NFC East.

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

19dAdam Teicher

Chiefs' Tyreek Hill does a DK Metcalf after saying he would never get the chance

The speedy Hill tracked down the Falcons' Foyesade Oluokun 51 yards down the field following an interception.

19d

Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed when Falcons' Koo misses late FG

— Kansas City clinched the top seed in the AFC and the only playoff bye when Patrick Mahomes threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson with just under two minutes for a 17-14 win over Atlanta on Sunday.