Mike Smith signs extension with Buccaneers after missing on head coaching jobs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith has ample NFL experience, and the Bucs’ defensive performance this season strengthened his candidacy as a head coach. But he’s ultimately landed in the same spot by signing a two-year extension with the Buccaneers after other jobs on the market were filled.

“I am excited about what we are building here in Tampa Bay and would like to thank the Glazer family, Jason Licht, and Dirk Koetter for showing faith in what we are doing on the defensive side of the ball,” Smith said in a release Friday. “I think we grew quite a bit as a defense this past season and I look forward to working with my staff and our players to continue building upon what we have started.

“While I did have a chance to speak with a few organizations about head coaching opportunities earlier this offseason, it became very clear to me that I am in an ideal situation here with the Buccaneers. For the next couple years, I am fully committed and focused on my role with Dirk and the organization and will not be pursuing head coaching opportunities during this time.”

Smith spent six years as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He came into a difficult situation in Atlanta, stepping into the role vacated by Bobby Petrino, who sneaked out of town in the middle of the night, leaving notes in players’ lockers to let them know he was moving on.

Atlanta’s 2007 season, which saw a 4-12 finish, was worse than a disappointment. It was disheartening for fans who’d had visions of coming success and then weathered Michael Vick’s conviction for dogfighting and subsequent imprisonment. Smith came in and was a catalyst for steady improvement.

Smith’s leadership helped Atlanta bounce back to an 11-5 record and a wild card playoff bid with a rookie quarterback in 2008.

Smith built a respectable coaching resume prior to his Atlanta stint. His first foray into the NFL was in 1999 with the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive line coach and then the linebackers coach. Smith was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 as the defensive coordinator.

Smith’s defenses in Jacksonville were stout. With the exception of his very first season there, the Jaguars were in the top 10 for points allowed throughout his tenure.

The Falcons had the best stretch of seasons in franchise history under Smith’s leadership. Atlanta lost in the wild card round in 2008 to the eventual NFC champions, the Arizona Cardinals. The Falcons missed the playoffs in 2009 but finished 9-7, posting the first consecutive winning seasons in team history.

In 2010, Smith led his team to a 13-3 regular season finish, securing the top seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. The Falcons suffered a terribly disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round, a 48-21 blowout at home as chants of “Go Pack Go” echoed throughout the Georgia Dome.

The Falcons made the playoffs yet again in 2011, finishing second in the NFC South with a record of 10-6 and locking up a wild card bid. After Atlanta managed to only score a safety in a wild card matchup against the New York Giants, people began to question Smith’s ability to get it done in the postseason.

The team bounced back in 2012, finishing 13-3 and, for the second time in Smith’s tenure, locking up the top seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. The difference in 2012 was that the Falcons, and Smith, finally added a playoff win to their respective resumes. The Falcons beat the Seattle Seahawks with a thrilling 30-28 finish to advance to the NFC Championship, where they fell to the San Francisco 49ers.

Smith built up a great deal of goodwill with owner Arthur Blank as well as players and fans for his performance over those first four seasons. It wouldn’t last.

The next two years in Atlanta were markedly less successful than Smith’s first five with the Falcons.

The 2013 season brought a slew of injuries to key players, including dynamic wide receiver Julio Jones, who landed on injured reserve with a broken screw (from a previous break) in his foot. Roddy White was hobbled for most of the season, first with a high ankle sprain suffered in a meaningless preseason game, and then with a hamstring injury.

The team was lopsided in terms of talent, with the weight on the offensive side of the ball. Losing the top two receivers to injury made it impossible for the team to succeed.

The 2014 season was only slightly better, and the injury woes continued. In one game against the Vikings in Minnesota, the Falcons lost so many linemen to injury that rookie tight end Levine Toilolo had to play guard. The Falcons finished 6-10, and the patience with Smith had run out.

Atlanta came into the last game of the 2014 season with a 6-9 record, and the Falcons actually had a chance to win the division with just seven wins. It all came down to that final game of the season against the Carolina Panthers. Smith knew a win would save his job and failed to rally the team to make it happen. Atlanta lost 34-3, and Smith was fired the following morning on Black Monday.

Smith took a year off from coaching to regroup and just enjoy being a father to his teenage daughter. He then joined his former offensive coordinator in Atlanta, Dirk Koetter, who had been hired to replace Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers finished the 2016 season tied for ninth in the league with 38 sacks, and they’re tied for fourth for interceptions with 17. Tampa Bay also has 16 forced fumbles, which ties them at No. 7 in the NFL.

It’s very possible that given more time to acquire and incorporate more talented players on defense, Smith could have turned things around in Atlanta. His team’s performance over his first five seasons with the Falcons warrants strong consideration from teams in need of a head coach going into 2018.

But for now Smith is still in Tampa Bay, where he’ll look to build on the momentum that almost carried the Buccaneers to a division title in 2016.