Falcons Hire Raheem Morris as Their Head Coach
Yesterday, the Atlanta Falcons hired Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their new head coach. Morris becomes the first former NFL head coach Falcons owner Arthur Blank has hired, and the first full-time Black head coach in Atlanta’s history. After an extensive search that featured around 14 candidates, the Falcons chose and landed on Raheem who they hope will make the next step and turn this franchise around. One of his first tasks as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons is to try and figure out the quarterback situation, after Blank called the team’s quarterback play “deficient”, this was one of the key factors that led to Arthur Smith’s firing.
Raheem Morris coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011, putting up a 17-31 record over the course of three seasons. He then served as the Washington Redskins defensive backs coach before going to the Falcons for the first time. Morris was the defensive pass game coordinator in 2015 and then receivers coach from 2016-2019, while also being named Atlanta’s assistant head coach. In 2020, Raheem was promoted to defensive coordinator then was the interim head coach after Dan Quinn was fired. A year later, he would win a Super Bowl with the Rams as he served as their defensive coordinator.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement, "This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons. We are thrilled to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team's new head coach. Raheem emerged from a field of excellent candidates and is the right leader to take our team into the future. His time in LA has given him an enhanced perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning, working with an outstanding offensive staff and many other things that has helped him develop into an even more prepared coach in all aspects of the game. I believe his leadership skills have grown and his understanding of what it takes to have a highly collaborative one-team culture are now at a much higher level." Morris said in a statement, "I am overjoyed for the opportunity for my family and I to return to Atlanta as the Falcons head coach. We know from firsthand experience what a first-class organization Atlanta is and what this team means to its city and its fans. I am incredibly appreciative of Arthur Blank for his leadership and for this entire organization for putting its trust in me to help lead this team."
