Falcons hire Raheem Morris as next head coach

The Atlanta Falcons solid an enormous web of their head-coaching search this offseason and it was Raheem Morris who ended up rising as their selection. The workforce is anticipated to hire him as their new head coach in line with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

For Morris, will probably be his second alternative with the Falcons.

He served as their defensive coordinator throughout the 2020 season and took over as their interim head coach when Dan Quinn was fired following an 0-5 begin to the season. Most lately, he has labored on Sean McVay’s workers with the Los Angeles Rams as their defensive coordinator.

Morris additionally coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers between the 2009 and 2011 seasons, compiling a 17-31 file in that area. 

The Falcons interviewed 14 candidates for his or her head-coaching job, together with a number of the largest names available on the market throughout this teaching cycle. They had a number of conferences with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, met with former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and in addition interviewed former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

Even although his first head-coaching expertise in Tampa Bay went poorly, Morris has remained a preferred defensive coach in NFL circles and at 47 years previous continues to be a younger coach by league requirements. He shall be taking up a Falcons workforce that fell into constant mediocrity underneath former head coach Arthur Smith, who led the Falcons to a few consecutive 7-10 seasons earlier than being fired this offseason.

There is a few expertise to work with in Atlanta, together with working again Bijan Robinson, large receiver Drake London and tight finish Kyle Pitts. While Morris is a defensive coach, he might want to discover a solution to maximize the expertise of these three playmakers on offense – one thing that was a relentless wrestle for Smith this season. 

He additionally must get the quarterback state of affairs proper.

Atlanta spent the 2023 season rotating between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke with poor outcomes from each. The Falcons personal the No. 8 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, which might put them able to both transfer as much as choose one of many prime quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels) or place themselves to attempt for one of many second-tier quarterbacks, such as Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix.