The Atlanta Falcons have made a bold move in hiring Raheem Morris as their coach, making him the first former NFL head coach that owner Arthur Blank has hired in his 20-plus-year ownership tenure. This decision comes after an extensive search that featured 14 candidates, including well-known names like Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel. Morris was chosen over these candidates, signaling a return to the team’s past in hopes of solidifying their future.
Raheem Morris is no stranger to the Falcons organization. In 2020, he served as Atlanta’s interim coach for 11 games after the club fired Dan Quinn midway through the season. Despite leading the team to a 4-7 record during his tenure, Morris was not given the full-time job. Instead, the Falcons opted to hire Arthur Smith. However, after three years and Smith’s firing, the Falcons have now decided to turn back to Morris and appoint him as their full-time coach.
Morris recently spent three seasons as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator, adding a Super Bowl victory to his resume in 2021. This experience will undoubtedly benefit him as he takes the reins of the Falcons defense, which boasts talented players such as safety Jessie Bates III, cornerback A.J. Terrell, and defensive lineman Grady Jarrett. Additionally, Morris inherits a group of promising offensive skill-position players, including tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, and running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
Before his time with the Rams and Falcons, Morris was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, posting a 17-31 record over three seasons. He then transitioned to Washington as the defensive backs coach from 2012 to 2014 before joining the Falcons as a defensive pass game coordinator in 2015. He later served as the team’s receivers coach from 2016 to 2019, all while being the assistant head coach. Morris was eventually named the Falcons’ defensive coordinator in 2020 and later became the interim head coach after Quinn’s dismissal.
One of Morris’ immediate challenges will be addressing the team’s quarterback situation. The Falcons currently have Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder on their roster, but Blank has publicly criticized their performance last season. It is clear that the team’s quarterback play was a contributing factor in Smith’s firing, so Morris must prioritize finding a capable leader for the offense. Rams quarterbacks/pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson has been named as a potential candidate for the offensive coordinator position under Morris.
Raheem Morris faces a daunting task as he takes charge of the Atlanta Falcons. With Blank’s decision to hire a first-time head coach in over two decades of ownership, there is undoubtedly pressure to succeed. However, Morris has the opportunity to build upon his experience and implement his vision for the team. The Falcons’ fate rests in his hands, and the future of the franchise hinges on his ability to lead, develop young talent, and propel the team to new heights. Only time will tell if this critical hiring decision will pay off for the Falcons.
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