ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons hired Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith as their new head coach Wednesday night.
“Mike possesses all of the key qualities we were looking for in a head coach,” said general manager Thomas Dimitroff, in his first month on the job.
Dimitroff said the 48-year-old Smith, a 26-year NFL coaching veteran, “has strong experience with winning teams, a track record of success, a solid, smart approach to the game, and high character and integrity.”
Smith, the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator since 2003, had his second interview with the Falcons on Friday. He had never been an NFL head coach, but Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich, who was with Smith in Jacksonville for four years, said Atlanta made the right choice.
“I’ve played against his defense more than anybody in the world,” Leftwich said. “I think he’s a great guy for the job.”
