December 20, 2023, 12:03 a.m. ET
After a disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said the team will “finish out the season and go from there” when asked about the future of head coach Arthur Smith.
Speaking to Georgia Public Broadcasting on Tuesday, Blank said the organization is “committed to Coach Smith,” but added that after the season ends, the Falcons will “assess where we are and go from there.”
Sunday's 9-7 loss to the NFL's worst team was Atlanta's second straight loss. The Falcons were out of first place in the NFC South and in control of their playoff fate at 6-8 and needed help to make the postseason.
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Blank said that while Smith never had to make the playoffs this season to keep his job, the team was expected to be more competitive this year. The Falcons finished 7-10 in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
“I think this part of the season has been a mixed bag, honestly, I think so,” Blank told GPB. “And that’s what the coach would say. Arthur [Smith] is a very honest person… he sees himself very critically, so he comes from a wonderful family with great values and reflects these values in his leadership as best he can. So we’ll see how the season develops and what happens next.”
Atlanta will begin its final playoff push Sunday in Indianapolis with Taylor Heinicke starting at quarterback against Desmond Ridder, who threw an interception in the red zone on the Falcons' final drive of the game against Carolina. Heinicke has already replaced Ridder this season, starting with losses to Minnesota and Arizona in November.
After hosting the Colts, the Falcons will close out the regular season on the road against the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.
Smith, 41, is in his third season with Atlanta.
ESPN's Michael Rothstein contributed to this story.