It was said that a late season collapse was needed for Smith to lose his job, and losing four out of the last five games, three of which were in excruciating fashion, seemed to force Arthur Blank’s hand.
Honestly, I think Atlanta’s owner was looking for any excuse to keep Smith in the building because he genuinely liked the man and the quarterback was obviously the main reason the Falcons underachieved this year.
Unfortunately, Smith failed at every point down the stretch, and Blank had to make a change, but what didn’t change is Arthur Smith, who seems like one of the best humans in the business.
Though the results weren’t up to par, Smith never apologized for who he was and always protected his players. Falcons players spoke out after the Saints loss and all voiced their support for him, even going as far as hoping he’d be back in 2024.
When it was announced that he’d be fired, Falcons players and Smith told members of the media what his last words to the team were, and it was touching.
For all of the fans’ displeasure with Smith’s antics, you can’t deny the way players feel about the man. He’s clearly loved in the locker room, but this is a results-oriented business, and the Falcons failed to deliver with him at the helm. The next head coach will be pressured to deliver immediately.
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