Much has been written about the three-year run Mike Smith has orchestrated as the head coach of the defending NFC South
champion Atlanta Falcons.
Smith, who took over a team that finished 4-12 in 2007, immediately set about the business of changing the culture in Atlanta when he arrived as the 14th head coach in franchise history in 2008.
Since 2008, Smitty — as he is affectionately known around Atlanta's state-of-the-art training facility — has compiled an impressive 33-15 record,three consecutive winning seasons (11-5, 9-7, 13-3), and easily the best three-year coaching mark in franchise history.
What might come as a complete surprise to many Falcons fans is that Smith's 33-15 record over his first three seasons leads all active NFL coaches and is tied for fourth in NFL history interms of the coaching records for first time NFL head coaches. Only George Seifert (38-10), Chuck Knox (34-8), and Barry Switzer (34-14) compiled more wins in their first three seasons as head coaches than Smitty.
Here are a few other notes on Smitty's three-year run as head coach of the Falcons:
Smith is 27-1 when leading at halftime. * Smith is 20-4 at the Georgia Dome. * Smith's .688 winning percentage is the highest in club history through three seasons.
