The Falcons’ most successful stretch of play in franchise history came under Arthur Blank’s tutelage, but it had nothing to do with Blank and everything to do with Matt Ryan.
Matt Ryan was the reason the Falcons had six postseason berths in a decade, not Arthur Blank, who somehow escapes blame from some fans for the team’s depressing playoff drought.
I will give Blank credit. There are frugal owners that nickel and dime their own organization. It’s incredibly short-sighted and something that Blank has never done. The Falcons owner spares no expense when it comes to giving his team everything it could possibly need to win.
Arthur Blank cares deeply about the Atlanta Falcons… to a fault. [Mike Jones of The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6216519/2025/03/21/nfl-owners-free-agency-offseason/) recently put each NFL owner in a tier of how badly they want to win, with Blank falling in the last category — _stuck in struggle mode_.”
“Arthur Blank will take some swings, and players rank him high for his willingness to invest in the facility and support staff in their efforts to build a winning franchise. But Blank also seems to hurt his team by waiting too long to pull the trigger on moves that could correct mistakes. The Falcons emerged from free agency with their greatest need (pass rusher) largely unfulfilled, and unless they package quarterback [Kirk Cousins in a trade](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6207452/2025/03/17/browns-quarterback-tracker-kirk-cousins-russell-wilson/) for draft picks next month, they’re wasting a ton of money that could’ve been spent elsewhere had they not kept him on the roster.”
I don’t necessarily agree that Blank doesn’t want to win. In fact, I think it’s his obsession with winning and building a “family” atmosphere that is his Achilles heel. Caring too much about players, coaches, and front office personnel has blinded Blank, and it’s hindered his ability to make tough, yet necessary, decisions.
Arthur Blank deserves a lot of criticism, but one thing nobody can say is that he doesn’t put his money where his mouth is when it comes to trying to win football games.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire