The Atlanta Falcons were the first to fire their head coach on the Monday after the last Sunday of the regular season at 12:02AM and was third to last in hiring their new head coach to lead the team going into the 2024 season. Out with Arthur Smith and in with Raheem Morris. The Falcons had conducted 14 other interviews for the head coaching vacancy, many invited back for a second interview, including Morris. Morris is a defensive minded coach but also has offensive side of the ball knowledge. He has been both the pass game coordinator, wide receivers coach, and defensive coordinator for the Falcons under Dan Quinn. Since 2021 he was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, and helped them win a Super Bowl back in 2021 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
I’m glad the Falcons passed up on Bill Belichick because he would have been more a dictator than a coach in my eyes. He would have wanted full control of the full 65 players and front office, and he would have wanted general manager power. Falcons already have a general manager in Terry Fontenot, and a pretty good one at that. So why mess that up?
“I know that some of the guys being denied are in the top 32,” Tomlin said. “Raheem Morris is the best coach that I know & have been around that don’t have a head job.”
Mike Tomlin-Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
Morris does come into this position with NFL head coaching experience. He was 17-31 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 – 2011. He was also interim head coach in 2020 after replacing Dan Quinn. The Falcons started that season 0-5, and as interim coach Morris went 4-7. Now Morris’s head coaching record doesn’t look all that impressive, but he was young in Tampa, and he was forced into a tough situation as interim in Atlanta. I will give him the benefit of the doubt to see how his coaching style plays out this upcoming year.
When Morris was hired my first thought was owner Arthur Blank was going the safe route, and maybe he still is. He might have been starting to get that lump in your throat feeling as talks with Belichick stalled. After word came out of the hire, good things started to be said about Morris across all social media platforms including from Pittsburgh Steelers head man Mike Tomin.
I’m going to take Tomlin’s word for it. He has been the coach of the Steelers for 17 years and has a winning season each year. As for me, I just see a person by character, not by skin color, and I think Morris did some great things during his previous time with the #Falcons.
Getting the quarterback situation corrected
Morris and his staff is going to have to get the quarterback room correct. Quarterback one has to be his main focus this offseason. The Falcons would have to give up way to much in the draft to trade with the Chicago Bears for the #1 pick this year for USC quarterback Caleb Williams if that’s the route Fontenot and Morris want to go. Bringing in Kirk Cousins and drafting another QB for development such as Oregon’s Bo Nix would be too pricey if the rumor that Cousin’s is seeking a 2-year, $40 million a year contract.
So to me the logic solution is to trade a couple 2nd round picks this year and next for Justin Fields. Since Fields is an Atlanta native, there would be a buzz in Mercedes Benz Stadium next year if Fields came to Atlanta. Fields is still developing and maybe under Morris and new Offensive Coordinator Zack Robinson, he can go to the next level. It’s all about confidence with Fields. It seems sometimes he just doesn’t like playing in Chicago. Home would be great for him. If the Falcons do trade for Fields, and if Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke are not traded away or released, then have both fight it out for the #2 spot behind Fields.
Time will tell
As free agency opens up next month and the draft gets closer, time will only tell what the Falcons’ brass has in store. The Falcons have the team both on offense and defense to compete, they just need their next franchise quarterback to take them to the next level.
FOR MORE GREAT SPORTS CONTENT
Follow me on X @makirkley for more sports conversation and read more of my stories here at kirkleysportskorner.net.
Kirkley's Sports Korner 