Falcons Rumor: Arthur Smith Might Be Re-Hired in Coach Mike Vrabel Plan

If the Falcons hire Mike Vrabel to be the team's next head coach, could newly fired head coach Arthur Smith return in a reduced role?

One of the top candidates to fill the Atlanta Falcons' vacant head coaching position is Mike Vrabel, and his possible offensive coordinator choice is … interesting.

Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018 until the end of this season and enjoyed success leading the squad to the AFC Conference Championship in 2020. This run was so impressive that it got his offensive coordinator hired as a head coach. Someone Falcons fans should be familiar with - Arthur Smith, the man Atlanta just fired as its head coach.

Could Mike Vrabel bring Arthur Smith back to the Atlanta Falcons as his offensive coordinator? :: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Reports have emerged suggesting that Vrabel would like to bring back Smith as his offensive coordinator on whichever team he should ultimately sign with, and on Wednesday, Vrabel interviewed in Atlanta to pitch himself as the right man for the Falcons job.

Does that mean Smith will be returning to the Falcons as well? Let’s tap the brakes.

A head coach has never stayed with the same team in a reduced coaching role after getting fired. The closest example is Dave Campo going from head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, bouncing around the league, and returning as a secondary coach in 2008, a six-year gap for wounds to heal.

One would assume that Vrabel isn't married to the idea of having Smith on his staff. Otherwise, it wouldn't have made sense to even interview with the Falcons in the first place. 

Or … Falcons ownership is really entertaining a highly awkward concept.

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Smith had been on the hot seat with fans for years after making a habit of using Atlanta's premier offensive weapons, such as tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London, as decoys.

Vrabel's reported interest in giving Smith a job on his staff shows commendable loyalty. But beyond that? We’re not sure “loyalty” should be confused with “wisdom.”