Sports
Sports

Mike Smith, former Falcon Robert McClain reunite in Tampa Bay

Mike Smith, 2008–2014: The Falcons turned to Mike Smith, a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, as their head coach in 2008. Smith (66–45) quickly resurrected the franchise and lead the Falcons to five straight winning seasons, including two division titles and one NFC Championship game appearance. Smith went 1-4 in the playoffs and was fired after two losing seasons in a row. He is the Falcons' winningest head coach.

Credit: CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.CO

Credit: CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.CO

Mike Smith, 2008–2014: The Falcons turned to Mike Smith, a defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, as their head coach in 2008. Smith (66–45) quickly resurrected the franchise and lead the Falcons to five straight winning seasons, including two division titles and one NFC Championship game appearance. Smith went 1-4 in the playoffs and was fired after two losing seasons in a row. He is the Falcons' winningest head coach.
By Juliakate E Culpepper
May 11, 2017

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Atlanta Falcons’ cornerback Robert McClain on Wednesday.

Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator Mike Smith coached McClain in Atlanta from 2012-2014.

McClain, 28, was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. McClain played for the Panthers in 2010, 2015 and most of the 2016 season before playing for the San Diego Chargers for three games.

Playing in 47 games for the Falcons, McClain forced 152 tackles, had three interceptions and two sacks in three seasons with Atlanta.

About the Author

Juliakate E Culpepper
More Stories

Keep Reading

Atlanta Dream's Brittney Griner (42) shoots against Indiana Fever's Natasha Howard (6) and Aliyah Boston (7) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Credit: AP

Griner’s 15 points help Dream take 37-point win over Sky

Parkview’s Malachi Washington competes in High School Home Run Derby

The Georgia native, who participated in Saturday’s High School Home Run Derby, hit seven home runs in the first round and added two in the second.

Why Georgia native Whit Weeks is the ‘driver’ of LSU’s defense

Weeks's father was a former Bulldogs’ offensive lineman and his two brothers also play at LSU. Some believe he could help LSU could win the national championship.

The Latest

Florida Panthers executive Mike Huff partied at Johnny's Hideaway with the Stanley Cup. (Brandon Amato/Courtesy of Johnny's Hideaway)

Credit: Brandon Amato/Johnny's HIdeaway

Sports Daily: Party responsibly

Atlanta TV sports listings

Sports Daily: Grumbling about pitches

Featured

“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

UPS offers unprecedented buyouts for drivers

The Teamsters union, which represents about 340,000 UPS employees, is urging its full-time members to reject the offers.

Longtime south Atlanta flea market set for massive mixed-use makeover

The developer is planning one of the largest projects in Atlanta’s Southside, a more than $500 million project near Greenbriar Mall.

MARTA chief Collie Greenwood retiring early

MARTA CEO and General Manager Collie Greenwood is leaving “because of immigration and personal matters” and has elected early retirement.