Last month, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank stated that he was dedicated to head coach Arthur Smith but will evaluate the franchise after the season. The regular season comes to a close on Sunday, and what happens in Week 18 may determine Smith’s future with the organization.
With a record of 7-9, the Falcons are still in contention for the NFC South division title. They must defeat the New Orleans Saints, and the Carolina Panthers must defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are in a win-and-in situation. Atlanta’s odds are minimal, but the Falcons might be playing postseason football the next week.
It’s fair to say that things in Atlanta haven’t been going well lately. The Falcons have lost three of their last four games after starting 6-6, while the Saints and Buccaneers have won three of their last four. If the Falcons lose on Sunday, they will have gone 7-10 for the third time in a row. Smith would become the first Falcons head coach in history to lose 10 games in three consecutive seasons.
According to NFL Media, there is still support for Smith in the building, but Blank has been calling individuals he trusts throughout the league for guidance on how to proceed. This version of the coaching carousel appears to be promising, especially because Bill Belichick may be aboard for the trip. According to NFL Media, Belichick’s name has come up regularly in connection with Atlanta during discussions with league sources.
For months, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe has identified Atlanta as a possible landing site for Belichick. Belichick’s predicament differs from that of others in that he is still under contract in New England and is not guaranteed to be fired. According to NFL Media, Patriots owner Robert Kraft would demand some form of compensation for Belichick, so prospective teams would have to assess how much draft capital they would be willing to give up for a 71-year-old Belichick.
Belichick coaching the club against whom he staged the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history would be insane, yet it’s allegedly being discussed around the NFL as a possibility.
Leave a Reply