The Falcons are entering a new era under head coach Arthur Smith, who now has to supplement his staff with assistant coaches who share his vision for the team.
As reported by D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Falcons will not keep offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter along with six assistant coaches. Greg Knapp, Chad Walker, Tosh Lupoi, Mayur Chaudhari, Chris Morgan and Aden Durden will not return in 2021.
Durden, the Atlanta linebacker in 2020, will join the Cowboys as Dan Quinn’s assistant, who has just taken over as Dallas’ defensive coordinator.
These movements are not shocking, as any head coach would prefer to surround himself with assistants with the same idea. Atlanta has already been linked with several coordinators and assistants on both sides of the ball.
Given how rare it is to keep assistant coaches, it is worth noting that Smith himself survived through three head coaches while serving as an assistant in Tennessee.