Falcons hire Rams DC Raheem Morris as head coach،
ATLANTA — The Falcons are returning to their past to try to solidify their future.
Atlanta hired Raheem Morris as coach Thursday, making him the first former NFL head coach Arthur Blank has hired during his more than 20-year tenure. He is also the first full-time Black head coach in franchise history.
“This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons,” Blank said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team's new head coach. … Raheem emerged from a group of excellent candidates and is the right leader to lead our team into the future .
“His time in Los Angeles gave him a better perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning, working with an exceptional offensive team and many other things that helped him becoming an even more prepared coach in all aspects of the game. I believe his leadership skills have developed and his understanding of what it takes to have a highly collaborative team culture has now reached a much higher level .
Morris' hiring follows an extensive search involving 14 candidates, including former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who was hired Wednesday by the Los Angeles Chargers.
Morris was one of four coaches to have a second interview with the club. The others were Belichick, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. The Falcons are the only team Belichick has interviewed with – and they decided to go in another direction.
This marks a return to Flowery Branch, Ga., for Morris, who served as Atlanta's interim coach for 11 games in 2020 after firing Dan Quinn midway through the season. Morris went 4-7 but didn't get the full-time job. Instead, the Falcons hired Arthur Smith.
Now, after Smith was fired on Jan. 8 after going 21-30 in his three seasons, the team has decided to hire Morris as full-time coach.
“I am excited about the opportunity for my family and I to return to Atlanta as head coach of the Falcons,” Morris said in a statement. “We know first-hand what a first-class organization Atlanta is and what this team means to its city and its fans. I am incredibly grateful to Arthur Blank for his leadership and for this entire organization who trusted me to help him lead this team.”
Morris, 47, spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, winning the Super Bowl in 2021.
This will be his second stint as a full-time head coach in the NFL, having led Tampa Bay from 2009 to 2011, going 17-31 over the three seasons.
Morris then went to Washington as defensive backs coach from 2012 to 2014 before his first stint with the Falcons – first as defensive passing coordinator in 2015, then wide receivers coach from 2016 to 2019, while also serving as Atlanta's assistant head coach. .
He was named the Falcons' defensive coordinator in 2020 and was promoted to interim head coach following Quinn's firing.
“I love it! I have nothing but good memories with Rah at the helm,” Falcons guard Keith Smith said in a text to ESPN. “I think his relationship with the organization is a plus for the plug and play.”
Morris inherits a defense featuring second-team All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III, cornerback AJ Terrell and defensive lineman Grady Jarrett. He's also signing talented offensive players, including tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier as well as two offensive linemen who were there during his last stint with Atlanta – tackle left Jake Matthews and right guard Chris Lindstrom.
“I am beyond excited to work alongside Raheem to bring a championship to Atlanta,” general manager Terry Fontenot said in a statement. “…Raheem is the perfect fit for our team, our culture and our shared vision for success in Atlanta, and I can’t wait to start working with him and have his energy in our building.”
Fontenot and Morris will report directly to Blank, rather than CEO Rich McKay, as was the case with the previous structure. McKay will remain in his position with AMB Sports & Entertainment, representing the team in league affairs and on the NFL Competitions Committee. Greg Beadles remains the team president and handles day-to-day business operations.
At the January 8 press conference announcing Smith's firing, it was stated that McKay still had a day-to-day contribution, even though many believed he no longer did. McKay said he spoke with Smith and Fontenot “25 times a week.”
On Thursday, Blank said McKay “would no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of football,” but that his role within Blank's overall business would expand, including becoming an associate director on the board of directors of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
Morris grew up in New Jersey, then played college football at Hofstra on Long Island, New York, where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant. He went to Cornell as defensive backs coach in 1999 before returning to Hofstra as defensive backs coach from 2000 to 2001, then had his first NFL stint as a defensive assistant with the Buccaneers.
Once Morris makes his team, his first task will be to determine the quarterback situation. Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder remain on the roster, but Blank called the team's quarterback play last season “deficient,” and that was one of the factors that led to Smith's firing.
Rams quarterbacks coach and passing coordinator Zac Robinson will be a leading candidate to become Morris' offensive coordinator in Atlanta, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Morris will want to talk to several coaches about the O coordinator position, but Robinson will be a strong candidate.
