Atlanta Falcons Fire Head Coach Mike Smith

By Josh Hill | Dec 29, 2014

Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith is shown on the sideline in the first quarter of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Georgia Dome. The Steelers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

The end of the road has arrived for Mike Smith in Atlanta, as the Falcons head coach was fired after his second straight losing season with a Super Bowl caliber roster.

After a losing season in which the Atlanta Falcons lost more than a handful of last second games, the Mike Smith era has mercifully come to an end. It’s a strange ending to what could have been a magical run for Smith, who build a winner in Atlanta before suddenly realizing he didn’t know how to win with it.

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There wasn’t much drama about Smith’s future, as he needed a win on Sunday afternoon to keep his job and that just didn’t happen. Not only did he lose, but the Falcons were blown out in a game in which the Falcons could have won the NFC South and clinched a playoff berth.

Instead, the 2014 season ends with the Falcons missing the playoffs for the second straight year after making it to the NFC Championship Game in 2012.

Mike Smith will eventually get a job again in the NFL, as he has roots with the 2001 Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl team and it’s not like he didn’t have an eye for talent in Atlanta. He just never knew how to make it all work, whether that was on his staff or on him for not being a leader, the Falcons just fell flat with what looked to be a Super Bowl caliber roster.

As for who Smith’s replacement will be, the Falcons are rumored to be looking at Rex Ryan as their new head coach which means things could move quickly after Ryan was fired in New York on Monday morning.

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