Leading The Flock: Atlanta Falcons Sign Mike Smith To 3-Year Contract Extension

The Atlanta Falcons announced Thursday that head coach Mike Smith inked a three-year contract extension through 2014.

The Falcons finished the 2010 season at 13-3 as the No. 1 NFC playoff seed before falling to the Green bay Packers in the divisional round.

Smith joined the Falcons after they went 4-12 in 2008 and just after Michael Vick was sent to prison on dogfighting charges and coach Bobby Petrino fled for the University of Arkansas.

“When we hired Mike Smith, we believed we had found the total package: a head coach with strong leadership skills and experience and the track record to back it up, and a man of high character and integrity,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “In his three seasons with us, Coach Smith has demonstrated all of these characteristics, and then some.”

Smith signed a four-year contract worth between $8 and $10 million in 2008, leaving his job as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator. He is 33-15 with two playoff berths in three seasons and posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history.

"I am looking forward to continuing to build upon the solid foundation we have in place," Smith said. "We are going to continue to work as hard as we can to bring a championship to Falcons fans and the city of Atlanta."

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