After winning the final four games of the season to conclude tied for first place in the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons have decided to make a coaching change.
“The Falcons have fired head coach Raheem Morris, sources tell The Insiders,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported.
Morris was the head coach in Atlanta for only two seasons; he went 8-9 in both.
The move is shocking considering the relative success of Morris’ two draft classes.
In 2024, Morris selected the quarterback of the future in Michael Penix Jr.
In 2025, Morris made an aggressive move and traded back into the first round. He selected two edge defenders, Jalon Walker from Georgia and James Pearce from Tennessee, and was rewarded with one of the most ferocious pass rushes in the NFL.
Rookie safeties Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. were also very impactful.
They will join the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, and likely the Las Vegas Raiders in this head coaching cycle.
General Manager Terry Fontenot Fired
In addition to moving on from Morris, the Falcons have fired general manager Terry Fontenot.
Fontenot was hired in 2021 after longtime GM Thomas Dimitroff was fired.
In his five seasons in the position, Fontenot did not finish above .500 a single time.
He went 7-10 in each of his first three seasons, and 8-9 in the last two. He finished his Falcons career with a record of 36-48.
Fontenot oversaw the first round drafting of Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. He leaves Atlanta with just five picks in next April’s draft for the second year in a row. Of those five, the first will come 43rd overall after trading the team’s 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams to secure rookie James Pearce.
Falcons Fire Head Coach Raheem Morris And General Manager Terry Fontenot