After the 2016 Atlanta Falcons season ended in a Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots, Dan Quinn announced that there were going to be some major coaching changes. Kyle Shanahan left to become the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and former defensive coordinator Richard Smith was replaced; though as it turned out, Dan Quinn had taken over the defense after the bye week.
The last couple seasons saw Steve Sarkisian and wildly popular Marquand Manuel take over for the offense and defense respectively. Neither were able to get the Falcons back to where this team was at the end of 2016 and Dan Quinn had enough.