The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Arthur Smith just after midnight on Monday, just hours after the team was routed in the finale of its third consecutive losing season in as many years under Smith's watch.

Atlanta entered Sunday with a very narrow path to claim the NFC South title, but it was shut out of the postseason for the third year under Smith when it was dealt a 48-17 loss by the rival New Orleans Saints.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations. After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position.”

Smith finishes his tenure with a career mark of 21-30.

Blank said that he and Falcons CEO Rich McKay would lead the search, with general manager Terry Fontenot also providing input.

On Dec. 20, Blank said he was "committed" to Smith but wanted to see how the end of the season played out. The Falcons went on to lose two of their final three games after that point, with the team not having claimed a winning season since 2017.

Blank did not issue a playoff mandate before the season, but he said in August, “I expect us to win more games than we've won the last couple of years."

Quarterback play proved to be a particular problem for Smith throughout his run. After the Falcons' failed pursuit of Deshaun Watson in March 2022, the organization dealt mainstay Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts and signed Marcus Mariota as his replacement. Mariota was benched that December for rookie Desmond Ridder.

Rather than pursue a veteran quarterback or another passer in the draft, the Falcons opted to stick by Ridder heading into the season. Smith attributed criticism of Ridder in October to "toxic groupthink," but he would later go on to bench his starter twice in favor of Taylor Heinicke. Ridder started Sunday's finale against the Saints with Heinicke ruled out by an ankle injury.

Smith was also scrutinized for his use of the Falcons' skill-position players after the team invested top-10 picks in tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. Pitts had just four more catches on the season (51) than fellow tight end Jonnu Smith, while Robinson, who was widely expected to be the centerpiece of the offense, had just 23 more carries than Tyler Allgeier.

The Falcons finished the year just 26th in scoring at 18.9 points per game.

Smith is the fourth NFL coach to be fired this season, following the Las Vegas Raiders' Josh McDaniels, Carolina Panthers' Frank Reich and Los Angeles Chargers' Brandon Staley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arthur Smith fired: Falcons dump coach hours after huge loss in finale