By Matt Stuart | Published | No Comments
This week Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Smith, while speaking to Georgia Public Broadcasting, stated that he intends to let the season play out, before making any decision on the future of head coach Arthur Smith.
The Falcons are coming off a stretch where they have lost two games in a row, and their loss this past Sunday, to the Carolina Panthers, took them out of a three way tie for first place with the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Both the Saints and Buccaneers won their respective games this past Sunday. The Falcons are now 6-8 on the season and no longer control their own destiny.
The Falcons were a trendy pick to win the NFC South this year, after finishing the last two seasons 7-10. The NFC South is the worst division in the NFL, by winning percentage. But the Falcons have struggled this season behind second year quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Smith hsa been criticized by some fans and members of the media for sticking with Ridder for too much of the season. Ridder has been shaky down the stretch for the Falcons, and threw a critical fourth quarter interception in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.
The Falcons have not made the playoff since the 2017 season. That was also their last winning season.
While speaking to a reporter from Georgia Public Broadcasting, Blank said that the team was “committed to coach Smith.” When pressed further for comment, Blank stated that he planned to asses where the team is at the end of the season and then “… go from there.”
Smith is in his third season as the head coach of the Falcons. Prior, Smith was the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.
