Sunday night, Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur M. Blank announced the team would fire head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff. Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay has assumed day-to-day oversight of football operations in the interim and will assist in the search for a new general manager and head coach. Under the direction of McKay, Dimitroff’s current responsibilities will be handled by current members of the football operations staff for the remainder of 2020.
An interim head coach is expected to be announced on Monday.
“Decisions like these are very difficult, but the previous two seasons and start to this one have been especially hard for me because of the deep love, admiration, and respect I and my family have for Dan, Thomas, and their families,” said Blank. “For many years, they have represented me, our team, organization, and Atlanta with class, commitment, and all the passion you would want in the leaders of the team. But as everyone knows, this is a results business and I owe it to our fans to put the best product we can on the field. We have poured every resource possible into winning and will continue to do so, but the results of late do not meet our standard or what I’ve promised our fans. Therefore, we will install new coaching and personnel leadership of the Atlanta Falcons at the appropriate time.
“Our finish in 2019 earned an opportunity to show that momentum could be continued and built upon, but that has clearly not happened,” Blank continued. “And overall, the last 3-plus seasons have fallen short of my commitment to Atlanta and to our fans everywhere. I want them all to know that my commitment to winning has not wavered and I will continue to provide every resource possible to that end.”
The Falcons are 0-5 travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings on Oct. 18.
“We are moving forward and will do everything we can to help this year’s team win as many games as possible while putting a strong plan in place to execute these important leadership searches with an eye to positioning the Falcons for success well into the future. We owe that to our fans,” said McKay.
Since Dimitroff’s arrival in 2008, the Falcons have won 109 games, been to the playoffs six times and won the NFC Championship in 2016. He drafted Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Jake Matthews, Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones. Since 2008, the Falcons rank 8th in the NFL and 4th in the NFC in wins.
Meanwhile, Dan Quinn finishes his Falcons’ tenure with a 43-42 regular-season record and 3-2 in the playoffs. Quinn famously led the Falcons to Super Bowl LI. However, giving up a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots would prove to be an albatross that he, the Falcons and the fans alike, would be unable to shake. This season, Atlanta is 31st in total defense, 31st in pass defense and tied for 30th in scoring defense. The situation has become untenable.
“Dan Quinn represents everything you would want in a man, coach, teacher or neighbor,” said Blank. “He is a man of integrity, character and determination. He’s also a friend anyone would like to have. While we have not achieved the results we all expect, I’m very proud of how Dan has represented all of us and the passion he has poured into leading our team. Dan and Stacey have also given back so much to our community, particularly those serving in the military and their families. They will always have my gratitude and our best wishes for all the very best in the future.”
