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Arthur Smith Is Set to Make $17,000 Each Day for Not Coaching the Falcons

Samnur Reza
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Arthur Smith Is Set to Make $17,000 Each Day for Not Coaching the Falcons

After the conclusion of the regular season, the Atlanta Falcons waited mere minutes before firing their head coach, Arthur Smith. It was even televised during the post-game analysis of Sunday Night Football. But was this shocking? Certainly not! Even sportscaster Rodney Harrison, who lives in Atlanta, expressed that it was highly anticipated that Smith would get fired.

Smith was supposed to turn things around for the Falcons, but their late-game turnovers and a QB dilemma worse than the Jets resulted in a 7-10 record for three straight seasons. Fans have been furious over how the franchise continues its playoff drought for six seasons straight, let alone a Super Bowl victory they’ve never secured.

Nonetheless, both the fanbase and the team finally have the opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief now that the prodigal coach has been fired. However, it might surprise you that the Falcons will still have to carry Smith’s burden for the next three years. As it turns out, the now-former head coach of the Falcons will be making about $17000 per day until his contract ends with the team, as reported by MLFootball.

If you didn’t know — NFL coaching contracts are fully guaranteed, and a franchise is obliged to honor them even if they decide to sack the coach. A similar story to Smith’s took place back in November on the Raiders’ grounds, when the management abruptly decided to fire their head coach, Josh McDaniels.

He inked a six-year, $60 million contract with the team last year and was fired this mid-season. Therefore, the team will be paying him $40 million for the next four seasons, despite not coaching the team. However, this could change if both parties mutually decide on a buyout for a smaller amount.

Arthur Smith Isn’t the Only Coach to Be Fired on Black Monday

Smith’s sacking news came exactly at midnight, keeping the Black Monday ritual alive. Following this, Commanders coach Ron Rivera got the boot after leading the team for four years. After the second-worst record in franchise history, the group that bought the team from the Snyder family earlier last year decided to sack the head coach, who reportedly earned an estimated of $8.5 million per year, as per Sportico.

Nevertheless, Smith was the highlight of coach-firing this Black Monday, as fans didn’t shy away before taking a jab or two at the now-former Hotlanta head coach.

Reacting to MLFootball’s post, this fan quipped, “I wish I could get paid that much to do nothing.

Another chimed in and noted, “Funny because that’s what he has done for the past 3.

This fan remarked, “Best job in sports – a fired coach with a contract.

A fan stated, “Exactly why I never feel bad for head coaches lol.

Lastly, this fan asserted, “If I was an owner no way I’m making these contracts guaranteed. No way. If I fire you that’s where it ends.

As we head into the postseason, there will be a few more coaches to be ousted. Eight-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick is one of those potential coaches who has remained on the hot seat throughout the entire season as the Patriots are going through one of the worst seasons yet during his tenure.

However, Belichick isn’t the type of coach to get the boot on Black Monday. He has led the franchise to six Super Bowls and 19 straight winning seasons. Therefore, even if they decided to let him go, it would be done with grace. In his recent post-game presser, Belichick revealed that he will meet with Robert Kraft just like every other year and see how things go from there.

Last but not least, Panthers HC Frank Reich was fired this season after a 1-11 record. Chargers HC Brandon Staley was also let go after a 5-9 record with the team.

About the author

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza

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Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. He still vividly remembers his first-ever fixture: a 2011 matchup between the Patriots and Raiders, where Brady led his team to a 31-19 victory. Even so, Samnur believes Brady’s best performance came against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, a game he still revisits from time to time. Samnur diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and even the NCAA. Thus, he considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 850 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over a year ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in God of War: Ragnarök. Having recently learned how to ride a bike, he now wishes to travel almost everywhere on it.

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