Updated: Mike Smith taken to hospital for observation, back in Atlanta
CHARLOTTE — Following Sunday’s Falcons-Carolina game, Falcons coach Mike Smith, 52, had chest pains and was taken to a hospital before the team’s charter flight left for Atlanta.
In a statement, however, the team described the situation as “a non-emergency matter.” Smith had undisclosed tests and was resting comfortably overnight, the team said.
Smith arrived back in Atlanta at 3 a.m. and is expected to be at the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters later today for team meetings at 4 p.m.
The Falcons will hold a walk-through practice between 7:30-8:10 p.m. in preparation for Thursday’s game against the Jaguars.
Smith will address the media following the session.
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238 comments Add your comment
dirty bird
December 12th, 2011
3:13 am
Praying for Coach
trademark
December 12th, 2011
3:44 am
Hope it’s nothing, Coach, get back to it!
Falcon228
December 12th, 2011
3:47 am
Great to hear Coach Smith is back. We need him down the stretch. Again guys, stay focused. Now, I’m troubled that the AJC will allow someone to put things on this website when it comes to a person’s health. You’re crossing a line that exceeds our first amendment rights. It’s disgusting. But when people publish these comments it comes down to karma. Watch your own days ahead. What goes around comes around.
Just Nasty & Mean
December 12th, 2011
4:32 am
…turns out it was just the burritos the team had at halftime in the locker room.
Mr. KnowitAll
December 12th, 2011
4:33 am
Watching the Falcon’s offense is enough to give ANYBODY a heart attack.
Falcon Friend
December 12th, 2011
4:35 am
I don`t understand the mentality of some people who post on these sports blogs. As time goes on, maybe some will go away or at least get more in tune with what real life is about.
P B Orr
December 12th, 2011
5:11 am
I’ll bet it was gall bladder or kidney stones. That can be really bad – experience. Short week, get well soon Smitty!
extremus
December 12th, 2011
5:23 am
I’m very glad that it appears Mike Smith is okay and that the situation wasn’t apparently very serious. I don’t wish to trivialize a matter as important as someone’s health, but when I read the headline my mind immediately went back to Dan Reeves’ heart issues during the ‘98 Falcons’ unlikely NFC Championship and lone Superbowl run.
The best Christmas gift the Falcons could give to Mike Smith (not to mention all their fans) would be to continue playing 60 minutes of football like the last 30 yesterday and blowing some teams OUT for a change. I’m certain that Smith, the Falcons, and the rest of us would love to see more commonalities with 1998 than just their coach having a heart scare.
DrCH2
December 12th, 2011
5:46 am
Shades of 1998’s team and Coach Dan Reeves? They went to the Superbowl.
MountainMan
December 12th, 2011
5:51 am
Julio plus Roddy plus Gonzales plus Douglas plus Ryan… Not chopped liver!
CuseFalcon
December 12th, 2011
6:04 am
I see you second rate newspaper people changed the title……bumpkins
ATL_22405
December 12th, 2011
6:18 am
For Coach Smith: Got’a have YOU down the stretch – feel better SOON!
Road Scholar
December 12th, 2011
6:19 am
I had chest pains watching the first half of the Falcons game too!
Seriously, Coach, stay on top of this and we hope you feel better!
ATL_22405
December 12th, 2011
6:23 am
Weatherspoon is playing “Lights Out” football – Pro Bowl anyone?
jlperry
December 12th, 2011
6:26 am
great game coach smitty get well soon and GOD bless!!!!
RB
December 12th, 2011
6:39 am
Your health is more important than the upcoming game. Get well coach. we need you around.
Stepchild
December 12th, 2011
6:48 am
Falcon228……you need to get the law books out. There is no 1st amendment violation on this board. Just a few lamented people.
Sam the Sham
December 12th, 2011
7:00 am
Hoping coach gets well soon. He IS the Falcons.
Bill
December 12th, 2011
7:03 am
Mularkey’s offense gives everyone chest pains…
Paddy
December 12th, 2011
7:04 am
Joe Tess, you sir are a liar! Folks know your backround and do not like what they see. Pls go somewhere else and spit your venom!
falcfan66
December 12th, 2011
7:09 am
Get well soon Coach….Praying for you!
Name (required)
December 12th, 2011
7:13 am
Same thing happened to me when I watched the Titans almost beat the Katrinas.
Joe Tess Fish House
December 12th, 2011
7:15 am
N E 1 else thing its a time 2 fire Mike Smith? I mean the guy fakes a hart atack just so he wont have to be in the same plaine as his team. What will hwe do next raod trip?
Mike Smith Hospitalized After Win
December 12th, 2011
7:31 am
[...] Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith was taken to a Charlotte hospital Sunday before the team’s flight back to Atlanta because of chest pains, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
alex
December 12th, 2011
7:44 am
joe tess-ease up, I agree with you, but diaper-trained michael m. is upset;falcons are posers and will get crushed if they make it to the playoffs..Ryan needs to go or go to backup. In a quarterback driven league, he’s not good enough..
brewman
December 12th, 2011
7:44 am
The Falcon’s play this season has given me anxiety attacks as well.
Ed
December 12th, 2011
7:48 am
Get well soon Coach Smith, your the best Go Falcons!
Misplaced Cajun
December 12th, 2011
7:53 am
Good idea to get Coach off the plane & to the ER…how ugly could it have been if Roddy White was doing mouth:mouth somewhere over SC. I 4 one think Joe from Tess’ Fish House is a hoot.
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
8:13 am
Get well Coach..Glad to hear your a-okay!
Now Coach after that debacle yesterday against a 4-9 team, you know this team is not ready to tackle the Giants in the Wildcard game yet especially on the road?
A 23-7 deficit at the half against a playoff team will be catastrophic! AGAIN….Sorta like history repeating itself? I’m just saying…
DONNA
December 12th, 2011
8:18 am
GET BETTER COACH SMITH. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dwayne
December 12th, 2011
8:20 am
Ryan will not be mentioned in the same manner as the elite QB’s because he has not even won one playoff game….geeez. Who said the Falcons will play the Giants? Is the regular season over? Falcons take care of business Thursday and enjoy the weekend. Coach’s start game planning for Saints early Friday morning. Go Falcons!!!
Statick
December 12th, 2011
8:28 am
Feel better, Coach. We need you for Thursday night. Make sure you don’t allow any stressors to derail you on your way back to good health. Uh, in that case, you’d better fire Sam Baker ASAP.
DHD
December 12th, 2011
8:33 am
“Non-emergency.” Really?
Get well, Coach!!
JJ
December 12th, 2011
8:35 am
Get well soon Coach!!!!! We need you on the sidelines!!!!
Birdbrain
December 12th, 2011
8:48 am
We love you coach, get well soon. My prayers are with ye, Go Birds!!!
JD
December 12th, 2011
8:56 am
If these Falcon’s would just take care of business before the 4th quarter Smitty would have alot less stress and possibly no chest pains. I’m just a fan and these birds make my blood boil…good luck coach. Hope you feel better.
Split Decision
December 12th, 2011
9:00 am
Hey Joe Tesh Fish House – Your opinions are about as good as your spelling or, should I say, yer opinona r bout as good as yer spelin.
Split Decision
December 12th, 2011
9:03 am
Can’t wait to see you back in the game coach – here’s hoping for a speedy recovery and let’s kick some a**.
Michael M.
December 12th, 2011
9:10 am
I keep seeing this Team with red jerseys and black helments in the Superbowl and its no hallucination !
Foothills
December 12th, 2011
9:11 am
Glad Coach is doing OK….possibly alot of folks feeling chest pains or other discomforts watching the Birds struggle vs. another NFL 2nd tier team. PLAYOFFS….ARE YOU KIDDING ME! PLAYOFFS?
Forgot to mention Pearl Harbor Day but headline news about our coachs non-emergency trip to hospital? Thanks AJC.
WDE
December 12th, 2011
9:13 am
Coach get better soon !
Ricardo Cabeza
December 12th, 2011
9:13 am
Glad it was nothing serious. Always better to be safe than sorry. Hurry on back home Smitty . . .short week to get ready for the Jags and they’ve been playing decent of late.
Tammy
December 12th, 2011
9:15 am
Keep enjoying that Salisbury Steak and chicken wingz. I’m sure it was just gas.
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
9:21 am
That 1st half debacle would make anybody sick…I’m just saying..
vesaversa
December 12th, 2011
9:21 am
Trying to win NFL football games can be bad on a person health .. I wish coach well , god speed.
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
9:23 am
Dont worry Coach you wont see the Packers again this year. Your staff and QB will see to that along with that vaunted defense..
Split Decision
December 12th, 2011
9:26 am
If the Falcons meet the Broncos in the playoffs, that one could Really put coaches in the hospital. I’m just sayin.
CGD..
December 12th, 2011
9:26 am
Titans 2x> the Panthers? I’m just saying…….
Michael M.
December 12th, 2011
9:29 am
If the Falcons make it to get another shot at Green Bay and play like they did in that second half yesterday for the whole game they can beat them. The Packers are 19 wins straight and somebody has their next lost in their back pocket. The Pac is going to drop a game but the question is when and to who ? That win streak is past due for a loss ! They have this big head now that they are flawless and unbeatable.Somebody is going to knock em off their game. This run can’t go on forever.
Mr. Belichick
December 12th, 2011
9:30 am
I get chest pains when I watch the Falcons play too.