Falcons fire both Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot
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The Atlanta Falcons didn’t have to think too much about their future when their season ended Sunday.
The team didn’t even wait for Black Monday, as it fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night.
The Falcons hired Morris ahead of the 2024 season, selecting him over candidates such as Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald and Ben Johnson.
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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is on the sidelines against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
However, Morris’ results were not what the Falcons wanted, going 8-9 in back-to-back seasons.
“I have great personal affection for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward,” team owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. “The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not lived up to our expectations or those of our fans and leaders. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Matter of fact, the team’s record is the same as the league champion Carolina Panthers, so the Falcons were just one win away from making the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. One of those losses was to the New York Jets, who would have had the first pick instead of the second in 2026 if the outcome of the game had been reversed.
Atlanta won their last four games, but that wasn’t enough for them or Morris and Fontenot.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is on the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on October 26, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
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Morris previously served as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and won a Super Bowl with them. Before heading to Los Angeles, he held multiple roles with the Falcons, including a stint as interim head coach in 2020.
Morris initially replaced Arthur Smith, who served as the team’s head coach for three seasons. Smith is currently the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers and will advance to the playoffs with a win against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
Perhaps the Falcons are berating themselves for choosing Morris over the others. Vrabel won the AFC East in his first season with the New England Patriots, Johnson won the NFC North in his first year with the Chicago Bears, and Harbaugh returned to the playoffs with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris (center) stands with his team wearing an Apalachee High School t-shirt following the school shooting before the NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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The Falcons should have a few names on hand as they look to get the most out of Michael Penix Jr., who will enter his third NFL season in September.
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