Falcons’ Smith shaves mustache in sleepless night but keeps Heinicke as starting QB

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, right, speaks to quarterback Taylor Heinicke, left, before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, right, speaks to quarterback Taylor Heinicke, left, before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By CHARLES ODUM / AP Sports Writer November 6, 2023 5 min read

ATLANTA (AP) — Arthur Smith has shaved his mustache and is keeping Taylor Heinicke as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback.

Smith is having second thoughts about one of those decisions.

Smith promised change after Sunday’s 31-28 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The coach’s facial hair was the victim in the middle of a sleepless night after the Falcons’ third loss in four games.

“I kind of regret it already,” Smith said Monday, adding he made the impromptu decision to shave at about 3:45 a.m.

A 4-5 record led to the mustache getting axed. Atlanta led the NFC South before back-to-back losses to Tennessee and Minnesota by a combined eight points.