Before action got underway on the field on Sunday, there was a report about Jon Gruden’s future that included a reference to the Falcons.
Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com reported that Gruden’s likeliest targets for a return to coaching are the Raiders and Falcons in the event that those jobs open up. The Falcons fell to 2-7 against the Seahawks on Sunday, but General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said after the game that Smith’s job is secure when he was asked about the “agitating” report regarding Gruden.
“Mike Smith is a hell of a football coach; he’s the leader of this team,” Dimitroff said, via ESPN.com. “Mike’s going nowhere.”
Smith has a 58-31 record since taking over the Falcons and he’s led the team to the playoffs four times, which makes it hard to believe that Dimitroff is just posturing. The Falcons’ season has gone south with a lot of help from injuries, something that Smith can’t control, and there have been plenty of personnel decisions that haven’t worked out in the Falcons’ advantage this season.
Nothing should be ruled out until the season comes to an end, especially if things go from bad to worse in Atlanta, but, for now, it seems unlikely that Smith’s going to be on the chopping block.