'Looking for Comfort?' Atlanta Falcons Coach Arthur Smith Reacts to Firing Questions
The Atlanta Falcons are still alive in the race for the NFC South title entering Week 18 - and Arthur Smith may be coaching for his job.
With talks intensifying about the direction Falcons owner Arthur Blank will choose to go, Smith's track record has grown under increased scrutiny.
Atlanta's 21-29 in Smith's three seasons, and with a loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, will finish 7-10 for the third consecutive year.
The 42-year-old Smith said Monday he understands the nature of talks regarding his potential dismissal but added nothing has changed with the conversations he's had with Blank.
“Everything we’ve done since I’ve been here has been the same routine the whole time,” Smith said. “I’ve talked about it many times, if you work in pro football, you know the market you’re in, you know the industry you’re in.
“If you don’t like it and you’re looking for comfort, go do something else.”
Smith added he and Blank talk "all the time" and after every game, with no differences occurring in the midst of the Falcons losing three of their last four games.
Reports emerged Saturday night ahead of Atlanta's 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears this past weekend that it'd be a surprise if Smith is fired, but with the condition he ended the season on solid terms.
The 20-point road loss that ensued was Atlanta's largest margin of defeat this season and seemingly puts Smith on uneasy ground entering the finale.
But Smith isn't letting the pressure get to him.
“Very confident and grateful,” Smith said. “This is what I love to do, but like I said, you’re not looking for comfort when you take these jobs. If you are, you’re delusional.”
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith looks at a play sheet against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Smith signed a six-year contract with the Falcons in Jan. 2021 and was given patience after his first two years, during which Atlanta battled cap limitations set in place from the previous regime.
There were no such restrictions this past offseason, and Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot spent $190 million in free agency - but thus far, to no avail record-wise.
Still, if Atlanta wins Sunday and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) lose on the road to the Carolina Panthers (2-14), Smith will help the Falcons snap a six-year playoff drought.
Nonetheless, the Falcons secured their sixth consecutive losing season with Sunday's loss, and as outside pressure builds on Blank, Smith's future remains in doubt.
And as of now, it appears Blank hasn't given him any strong indications about his status for 2024.
“We always talk about a lot of things,” Smith said. “There’s been no State of the Union every Monday, and I appreciate the questions. This is the situation you’re in. It’s the natural cycle of the NFL, but all of our focus is on New Orleans.”
Smith's coached 50 games for the Falcons. It's possible No. 51 will be his last.
Or it could be the game where everything flips, and the Falcons salvage an otherwise disappointing season with an outcome six years in the making.
What's it going to be? What will Blank decide?
The answer will come soon enough - with the Falcons and Saints set to kick off at 1 p.m. EST Sunday inside Caesars Superdome.
