The Atlanta Falcons suffered an embarrassing, season-ending 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers at home on Sunday. The team was frequently booed during the contest, a not-so-subtle sign of fans’ discontent. Falcons head coach Mike Smith, who had long been rumored to be on the hot seat, was officially fired Monday morning following his team’s second straight losing season.

Smith and the Falcons were seeking to win the NFC South title, and a win would have brought the team to the playoffs. However, the Falcons turned in an ugly performance in front of its home fans in what was certainly the most important game of their season. The Falcons allowed two defensive touchdowns and played with a surprising lack of urgency considering the game’s magnitude.

There are several reasons for Falcons owner Arthur Blank deciding that the time had come for change. This disappointing outcome, coupled with the team’s record of 10-22 the past two seasons, certainly were indicators that Smith would no longer be on the Falcons’ sideline in 2015. However, Smith’s dismissal stems from more than just two bad years on the job.

Despite great success in the regular season, the Falcons have been considered underachievers based on their 1-4 record in the playoff during Smith’s tenure. Smith’s in-game tactics have also long been under scrutiny, and his team blew several winnable games, including one to the Detroit Lions in London when Atlanta raced to a 21-0 lead. And after losing several key starters last year due to injury, Smith and the Falcons expected big things in 2014. Yet the team sputtered this season to 6-10, suffering consecutive losing seasons for the first time under Smith in his seven years as head coach.

“I would tell you that probably including my 23 years at Home Depot, this was the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make,” said Blank. “And I mean that very sincerely. It was complicated by the deepest respect that I had, we all had, for Smitty.”

According to league sources, ESPN reports that Atlanta has already asked the Denver Broncos for permission to interview offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Sources also have told ESPN that Atlanta has asked for permission to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. However, since both the Lions and Cardinals have playoff games this weekend, the interviews for both men are not allowed to happen until next week.

Smith leaves Atlanta as the team’s most successful coach in franchise history. His 66-46 record in seven seasons included four trips to the playoffs and two NFC South division titles. Before becoming the Falcons head coach, Smith had served as defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had one year remaining on his contract.

Whoever becomes Atlanta’s next head coach, the team’s offense is one of the most potent in the league. Matt Ryan has established himself as a true blue-chip, franchise quarterback, and wide receiver Julio Jones is one of the best young offensive play makers in the NFL. Roddy White rounds out a deep and talented receiving corps that also includes Harry Douglas and kick returner Devin Hester. But the team’s defense was a league-worst 32nd in total yards allowed, and 27th in points allowed.

Newly-ousted Jets head coach Rex Ryan could be a candidate to become the next Atlanta head coach, especially since he has such a pedigree as a defensive wizard. He helped lead the New York Jets to consecutive AFC Championship game appearances with a struggling Mark Sanchez at quarterback largely due to its stalwart defense. If Arthur Blank believes Ryan can work wonders with the team’s middling defense, then Ryan makes a lot of sense as a head coach there.