Falcons owner Arthur Blank, despite describing last season as “consistently, inconsistent,” granted one-year contract extensions to general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith on Monday.
Also, president Rich McKay signed a four-year contract extension through 2019.
Dimitroff and Smith, who helped to guide the Falcons to five consecutive winning seasons before posting a 4-12 mark last season, are now signed through 2016.
Last season’s collapse was of historic proportions. Since the NFL started seeding playoff teams in 1975, only two other teams were the No. 1 seed the previous season before falling to last place in their division.
“You have to measure disappointment in terms of the expectations that you have,” Blank said recently. “I think that the gap, to me, between our expectations going into 2013 season and where we ended up was severe.”
Dimitroff and Smith have both served in their roles for six seasons. During that time, the Falcons have posted a 60-36 record in the regular season while losing four of five playoff games.
As part of his job, McKay led the team’s effort to secure public financing for a new retractable roof stadium in downtown Atlanta. McKay has been with the Falcons for 11 seasons, previously serving as general manager.
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