Falcons owner will let season finish before decision on Arthur Smith

The Atlanta Falcons won't decide on the future of head coach Arthur Smith before the end of the 2023 campaign, according to team owner Arthur Blank.

"We are committed to coach Smith," Blank told GPB News' Jeff Hullinger. "We are going to play these last three games; we are committed to win. We will let the season play out and go from there.

"At the end of the year, we will assess where we are and go from there."

Atlanta has endured a disappointing 2023 campaign. The NFC South doesn't have a team with a win percentage over .500, so the 6-8 Falcons sit behind the New Orleans Saints (7-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) in the division. The Falcons' season hit a new low in Week 15 when they dropped a crucial game to the then one-win Carolina Panthers.

Blank explained that making the playoffs isn't a necessity, but noted that he did expect a better year overall.

"The requirement was we have more of a competitive team this year," Blank said. "I think through this part of the season, it’s been mixed, quite honestly, that’s what I think."

Smith is in his third season coaching the Falcons. He hasn't surpassed seven wins in any of his three years with the team.