JUST IN: NFL world reacts to update on Falcons’ Arthur Smith’s job status as confirmed by Falcon management

The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams through the first ten weeks of the 2023 season.

Despite their 4-6 start, the Falcons do not intend to fire head coach Arthur Smith, either now or at the end of the season, according to Jeff Schultz of The Athletic.

According to Schultz:

In recent days, Falcons owner Arthur Blank has not given coach Arthur Smith a “win now, or else” mandate. There will not be. There should not be any. Smith will not be fired this week, next week, or anytime soon. In fact, the only way Smith isn’t back as the team’s coach in 2024 is if there’s evidence that players are tuning him out (which hasn’t happened), the team completely unravels (which hasn’t happened yet), or Smith suddenly accepts the reality that he could quickly climb the corporate ladder at Federal Express.

According to sources, Schultz also wrote that despite the Falcons’ 7-10 record last season, Blank has been supportive of Smith behind the scenes. Atlanta’s offense is ranked 17th in the NFL in yards per play (5.1), but only 24th in scoring (18.9 points per game). Smith, 41, has an 18-26 record with the Falcons to this point in his career.

Smith has already benched second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder in favor of veteran Taylor Heinicke this season, and the third-year head coach has been chastised for his unusual use of rookie running back Bijan Robinson, whom the Falcons selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

But, while a lot can change between now and the end of the season, it appears that the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator will return to Atlanta for a fourth season in 2024.

Following Schultz’s report on Smith’s job status, many people took to social media to express their thoughts.