Arthur Smith (Head Coach)
The son of a U.S. Marine Corps captain who served in the Vietnam War, Coach Arthur Smith is an avid supporter of hosting military events for the team to connect with service members, veterans, and their families. In August, Smith took the team to visit with cadets and tour the campus at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point while the team was in New York for their preseason game. The players shared a meal with the Black Knights team, hosted a walk-through at Michie Stadium, and toured the campus to learn about the history and sacrifices of its alumni. Also, this past summer, Smith participated in a visit to Eglin Air Force Base in Destin, Florida. Smith, among other Falcons players and executives spent the day on the base, where they toured the facilities, spent time with numerous military members and had a chance to eat lunch with active-duty soldiers. Most recently, while the Atlanta Falcons team was in Seattle for an away game, Smith hosted a private viewing with players and local military members for the new film Devotion, a harrowing and inspiring story of two Navy fighter pilots in the Korean War. Also that week, the Falcons teamed up with the Seahawks and hosted a military base visit on their day off to show appreciation to service members at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Additionally, the Falcons hosted military veterans for a fishing tournament called "Fishing with the Falcons" and hosted active-duty military at Training Camp practices this summer.