The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot on Sunday, following the workforce’s victory over the Saints, the workforce introduced. The ousting marks an unceremonious finish to Morris’ two-year run in his second tenure main the franchise.
Fontenot accomplished his fifth season in Atlanta after becoming a member of the Falcons in 2021. The Falcons went 37-48, with no playoff appearances, throughout his tenure.
“I’ve nice private affinity for each Raheem and Terry and recognize their laborious work and dedication to the Falcons, however I imagine we’d like new management in these roles shifting ahead,” Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean mentioned. “The choice to maneuver away from individuals who characterize the group so nicely and have a shared dedication to the values which might be essential to the group isn’t a straightforward one, however the outcomes on the sphere haven’t met our expectations or these of our followers and management. I want Raheem and Terry the very best of their future pursuits.”
Morris, who additionally served as Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020, posted consecutive 8-9 information in his newest stint with the Falcons. He owns a 37-56 file as a head coach, together with his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2024, the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, solely to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth total, a surprising growth that even blindsided Cousins. However Cousins, coming off a torn Achilles, struggled and the workforce turned to Penix with three video games to go.
Penix entered the 2025 season because the workforce’s starter, although Cousins was nonetheless on the roster. Penix was up-and-down earlier than tearing his ACL in Week 11 — his third main knee harm since his faculty profession started — and Cousins completed out the season with 4 straight wins.
Finally, although, it wasn’t sufficient to save lots of Morris’ job or carry Atlanta from its current run of mediocrity. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017, and so they gained both seven or eight video games in seven of the eight seasons since.
Within the 2025 draft, the workforce chosen Jalon Walker fifteenth total and traded up with the Los Angeles Rams to pick out James Pearce Jr. twenty sixth total, hoping that including two first-round edge rushers would enhance a lackluster cross rush and would assist the workforce recover from the hump. Although the cross rush certainly improved considerably, the protection as a complete remained middling, and the offense was too inconsistent below Penix.
That leaves Atlanta in a wierd spot. There are some clear franchise cornerstones, led by celebrity operating again Bijan Robinson and vast receiver Drake London, in addition to proficient defensive kids in Walker, Pearce and security Xavier Watts. There’s a respectable supporting group, together with a stable offensive line and several other different items on protection. However there stay main questions at quarterback as Penix stays largely unproven and the workforce can get out of the Cousins contract comparatively simply if it needs.
Maybe most significantly, the Falcons should not have a first-round decide in 2026 because of the commerce to draft Pearce. Atlanta additionally faces important free agent selections, headlined by tight finish Kyle Pitts, who is ready to hit the market after his greatest seasons since 2021 and, at simply 25 years previous, could possibly be a participant Atlanta needs to retain.
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