Falcons Clean House: Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot Fired After Disappointing 8-9 Finish

Let's take a step back and see how we got here. The Falcons had just beaten the New Orleans Saints, their rivals in the division, in a tough game that ended the year on a high note. Morris, who is always upbeat, told reporters after the game that he was sure he would be back for a third season. He glanced over at Arthur Blank, the owner who was in the room, and joked that he would coach as long as the boss let him. But it looks like the writing was on the wall behind the scenes. The team was already out of the running for the playoffs, even though they won four games in a row at the end of the season and briefly tied for the NFC South lead. The Carolina Panthers won the division title because they did better in those important games against other teams in the division.

Arthur Blank, the team's long-time owner who has put a lot of time and money into the business, didn't hold back in his official statement. He said nice things about both Morris and Fontenot, saying that he respected them and liked how hard they worked. But in the end, this league is all about results, and the Falcons weren't getting them. Blank said, "I really like both Raheem and Terry and appreciate how hard they work for the Falcons." "But I believe we need new people to fill these roles in the future." He then talked about how hard it is to let go of people who stand for the company's values. However, the team's performance on the field had not lived up to what Blank, the fans, or even the front office had hoped for. He wished them well in whatever comes next, which is nice, but you can imagine how hard it is for everyone involved.

Morris's time with the team wasn't all bad, but it wasn't what the Falcons had hoped for when they hired him. He won 16 games and lost 18 games in two seasons, which isn't great in a league where you have to make the playoffs to keep your job. This team hasn't made the playoffs since 2017, so they've been getting angry for more than ten years. Before the season started, there was a lot of excitement too. Fans were happy with the team's roster, the young talent coming up, and the fact that Atlanta might finally be able to break out of this slump. But injuries, inconsistent play, and some bad choices about how to run the game made things go wrong from the start. Before, Morris was the Rams' defensive coordinator. In 2020, when Dan Quinn was fired, he even took over as the Falcons' interim head coach. The team went 4-7 during that time. He got the players excited and made them want to play. Players must have liked him as a leader because they liked him.

You can learn a lot about the culture Morris built by looking at how the players acted. For example, Jalon Walker is a great player from the 2025 draft class. Fontenot's last big move as GM was this. Walker, who was the first-round pick and led all NFL rookies in sacks with James Peace Jr., praised Morris for keeping the locker room together through thick and thin. After the Saints game, Walker said, "He did a great job of keeping the culture here strong."I give him praise."We've gotten through all of our problems this season." That kind of support shows that Morris could relate to people on a personal level, even if he didn't win a lot of games.

Chris Lindstrom, a guard, is another veteran who has had to deal with a lot of changes in coaching. He agreed with that and said that Morris helped the team connect in a real way, whether it was on offense, defense, special teams, or any other area. "I think coach Rah really helps people get to know each other," Lindstrom said. "I believe that we have that throughout the team and in all three phases. Even when things aren't going well, you still believe in what we want to do and in each other when you have that. He also said that respect and real concern for your teammates were what kept the group from giving up, even when the playoffs were out of reach. He said, "You don't pull off the gas when it's easy because you care about the guys around you." "We all know that the fans deserve it." So, I was very happy with our boys for ending the season that way.

Drake London, a wide receiver, was honest when asked about possible changes. He said, "That's not my job." "I can't choose those things. I love everyone on this team and everyone who helps it work. I care about everyone. That kind of loyalty makes you think that the players would feel like they were in the middle of front-office drama. Don't forget about Xavier Watts, the third-round pick who had five interceptions, which was the most by any rookie. He didn't say anything directly in the piece, but his performance shows that Fontenot made the right choice in his last draft: he built a defense with young, hungry talent that could be the foundation for whatever comes next.

Let's talk about Terry Fontenot now. He became the general manager of a team that had been mediocre for years and was now in the process of rebuilding before the 2021 season. In his four-plus years with the Falcons, they went 36-48, which isn't great for his resume. But let's give credit where credit is due: the 2025 draft class looks like a big hit. Peace Jr. and Walker scared quarterbacks, and Watts picked off passes all over the place. Even when their team lost, fans had a lot to be happy about. Fontenot's main goal was to make the lines and secondary better. This worked sometimes, but there were still holes in the roster, especially on offense, where consistency was an issue. The team couldn't win enough games to be competitive, no matter what it was: quarterback play, running back depth, or something else.

The Falcons have done this before. Return to the time when Arthur Smith was in charge. He was the coach from 2021 to 2023, and his teams went 7-10 three years in a row before he was fired. Before that, Dan Quinn's career ended when he made it to the Super Bowl in 2016. Do you remember 28–3? Ouch. The franchise has been going through this cycle of hope and then letdown for too long. Blank, who also owns Atlanta United in the MLS, is not the kind of person who can stay still. He hired Sportsology, a research group that helped his soccer team, to look into how the Falcons were doing. That means he wants a full makeover, not just a quick fix.

The Falcons aren't wasting any time as they look to the future. They've said that the search for a new general manager and coach will start right away. ZRG Partners will be in charge of finding a coach, and Sportsology will help them find a new GM. There isn't a set date for the hires, which makes sense because rushing them can cause more mistakes. They'll search next to each other, hoping to find the right pair to work together and make something that lasts. Who might be involved? There is already a lot of talk. If Ben Johnson from the Lions is available, he could be a coach. Mike Vrabel, who is more of a defensive mind, could also be a coach. The GM job would be a good fit for someone from the Ravens or Chiefs front offices who has a history of making good draft picks. But that's all we can do for now. We might find out more at Blank's news conference on Thursday.

What does this mean for the Falcons' future? It's a chance to build around that young core again. At the end of the season, the defense looked good. If they can find a stable quarterback, maybe through free agency or the draft, they might become important again. The Saints, Bucs, and Panthers all have problems, so the NFC South isn't a strong division. With the right leadership, things could change quickly in Atlanta. But supporters are tired of waiting. Losing eight seasons in a row? That's not fair. Blank knows that the fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium want more. This firing seems like it had to happen, but it still hurts. Everyone agrees that Morris and Fontenot were good people who cared a lot and did their best on the job. After the press conference, Blank hugged Morris. It wasn't fake; it was real thanks and hard work. But professional sports are cutthroat; the only thing that matters is winning, and the Falcons have been losing money for too long. One thing is clear as the team heads into a season full of unknowns: things are going to change, and they need to work this time. Taking a closer look at the team's history can help explain why this hurts so much. The Falcons have been around since 1966, but it feels like a long time since they were at their best. A lot of fans were sad when the Falcons lost the Super Bowl in 2016, even though they had a great offense with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and others. Since then, coaches and general managers have come and gone, all trying to get that magic back. Quinn took them there, but he couldn't keep them there. Smith was supposed to be the best at offense, but the results were bad. Morris was tough because he played for the Rams and helped them win the Super Bowl in 2021.

Atlanta Falcons fire head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot after second straight 8-9 season.

Owner Arthur Blank announced the firings hours after a season-ending win over the Saints, ending an eight-year playoff drought streak with no winning record.

Despite a late four-game winning streak and strong player support for Morris, the Falcons opt for new leadership in both roles.