Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has signed a three-year contract extension. The amount of paper to be stacked by Smith has yet to be announced, though it’s reasonable to presume he picked up a handsome raise after winning the 2008 Coach of the Year award and guiding his team to a 2010 NFC South title.
In the past three years, only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has won as many regular season games as Smith. The Falcons had never enjoyed consecutive winning seasons until Smith took over the team — during his time in Atlanta, they’ve had three straight. His value to his franchise is as high as any NFL coach’s.
It’s important to maintain coaching staff consistency in the NFL, and with Bill Musgrave and possibly Mike Mularkey moving along this offseason, locking up Smith was even more critical.
For more on Smith and what this move means for the Falcons, visit The Falcoholic.