2023 was supposed to be the year that the Atlanta Falcons returned to the playoffs and took that next step to become a relevant NFL franchise again. While they were technically in the playoff hunt until their final game, that was in large part due to the mediocrity of the NFC South.
At no point during the season were the Falcons a truly competitive team. Atlanta wasted no time in firing head coach Arthur Smith following Sunday’s 48-17 loss to New Orleans. As we look back on the 2023 campaign, several players stood out — for both good and bad reasons.