After making the playoffs four times in his first five years, Falcons head coach Mike Smith missed the playoffs in each of the last two years.
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The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly fired head coach Mike Smith after a second straight losing season.
The news was reported by Albert Breer of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Falcons announced HC Mike Smith has been fired.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2014
Smith became the Falcons head coach in 2008 and led the team to the playoffs with then-rookie QB Matt Ryan in his first season with the team. After missing the playoffs the following year, Smith led the Falcons to an NFC South division title and No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs – but were eliminated by the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs.
In 2011 the Falcons made the playoffs again but were eliminated in the Wildcard round by the New York Giants. In 2012 the Falcons made the playoffs for their third straight time but lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. The following two seasons the Falcons suffered two straight losing seasons – going 10-22 in that span.
Smith leaves as the Falcons’ all-time winningest head coach. His 66-46 record is the best in franchise history, and he is the only coach in team history to lead the Falcons to the playoffs four times.
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