NFL head coach recruits in 2021

Seven NFL teams laid off their head coaches during this cycle – three during the 2020 season and four after the regular season – and now the first hires of 2021 have been confirmed. The Jacksonville Jaguars have focused on former college coach Urban Meyer, who was announced as the new coach on Thursday. The New York Jets announced Thursday night that they had reached an agreement to hire former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. And the Atlanta Falcons reached a deal with former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Friday afternoon.

How did the Falcons, Jaguars and Jets fare with their hires? We asked ESPN National NFL Editors Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler to discuss each move and give their ratings, starting with the most recent at the top. They will note more hires in the coming weeks.

Join a team:
Falcons | Jaguars | Jets

Context: Offensive coordinator for Tennessee Titans (2019-20); Titans assistant coach including tight ends, offensive line and offensive quality control (2011-18)

Graziano: Smith was the hottest name in the 2021 carousel, interviewing at least five of the seven teams that had openings and relocating to Atlanta, where he will attempt to recapture the offensive magic he created over the past two years in Tennessee. Smith’s offenses in Tennessee were known for dominance by Derrick Henry, but the work he did in getting the passing game started and reviving Ryan Tannehill’s career shouldn’t be overlooked. My colleagues I have spoken to use the words “stability”, “versatility” and “intelligence” to describe what Smith will bring to a head coaching position. But man … that won’t be the easiest job, right? Ceiling issues, contract issues and how long will Matt Ryan be there?

Hunter: Yeah, that was one of the less attractive jobs on paper. The Falcons are eyeing a negative salary cap of nearly $ 40 million next year, and Ryan’s cap alone is $ 40.9 million. But Atlanta has dedicated ownership and it wasn’t that long ago that it won big. And Smith would make the most of Ryan, whose contract calls for cleaner escape routes in 2022, so maybe helping to revive a former MVP is the best path for Smith. His rushed multidimensional attack will help the quarterback. Was Smith the best choice here, or are we missing someone?