Ranking The Greatest NFL Head Coaches from All 32 Teams

5 of 33

Dec 28, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith reacts to the play against the Carolina Panthers during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

#29: Mike Smith (Atlanta Falcons)

Leeman Bennett introduced the franchise to winning in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Dan Reeves got it to its first-ever Super Bowl in 1998. Both are accomplishments worthy of mention here, but weren’t enough to get them chosen for best in Atlanta Falcons history. That honor belongs to Mike Smith. Granted, the way his tenure ended was unfortunate but it’s hard to argue with what he was able to accomplish. Despite inheriting an absolute mess of a team in 2008, a team that went 4-12 and would be starting a rookie quarterback, Smith got results immediately.

The Falcons did not have a losing season for the first five years he was in charge and made the playoffs four times. They went 13-3 twice in a three-year span and reached the NFC championship game in 2012, coming just yards away from going to the Super Bowl. Sadly, back-to-back losing seasons that followed got him fired but it should not diminish the fact that he has more wins than any Falcons coach in history. Hopefully over time people will come to appreciate that more.

Next: #28

Home/Power Rankings