Why Falcons' Arthur Smith Holds Steelers' Mike Tomlin in 'Highest Regard'

Mike Tomlin is among the best NFL's best, something Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith admires.

Jeremy Brener | Aug 23, 2023

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Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith is wrapping up his third training camp as a head coach, and while he isn't a rookie anymore, he's definitely on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to experience.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is on the other side of the table with 17 training camps under his belt.

When the two teams face off in the preseason finale Thursday, it will ultimately come down to the players to make the plays, but Tomlin's advice to Smith in the past could be part of how the Falcons prepare for the game.

“I try to pick his brain a little bit at the league meetings," Smith said. "I think I’ve been fortunate. There have been a lot of older coaches that have been great when I’ve had questions, when I’ve reached out by phone or text, or when you’re at some of those league events. And I appreciate those guys. They try to pass some of the wisdom down if you go look for it. We know how competitive this league is, but Mike Tomlin is one of the guys I hold in the highest regard."

Outside of Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in the league. That's a spot Smith hopes to be in someday with the Falcons, so it's a wise decision to heed advice from one of the best at his own profession.

The Steelers and Falcons are set to kickoff Thursday at 7:30 p.m. inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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Published Aug 23, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.