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Atlanta Falcons 2021 preview: Overhaul begins with new coach, without longtime star

AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith speaks to players before last Sunday's preseason game against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Smith, the former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, is a first-time head coach and in charge of a team in rebuilding mode.
AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith speaks to players before last Sunday's preseason game against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Smith, the former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, is a first-time head coach and in charge of a team in rebuilding mode. AP photo by John Bazemore / Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith speaks to players before last Sunday's preseason game against the visiting Cleveland Browns. Smith, the former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, is a first-time head coach and in charge of a team in rebuilding mode.

By PAUL NEWBERRY / The Associated Press 6 min read

ATLANTA – New coach. New general manager. No Julio Jones.

The Atlanta Falcons have entered a new era, and it doesn’t include the greatest receiver in franchise history.

Jones was dealt to the Tennessee Titans earlier this summer for a couple of draft picks, a move that helped the Falcons deal with a messy salary cap situation exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

It was also a clear signal that the Falcons, after pushing repeatedly to replicate their run to the Super Bowl in the 2016 season, have decided on a longer-term rebuilding job on the heels of a dismal 4-12 season.

The Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff after losing their first five games in 2020, stumbling to the finish of a third straight losing season with an interim coach.