Raheem Morris is making a comeback to a well-known sideline.
The Atlanta Falcons announced on Thursday night that Morris, who spent the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, will take over as head coach.
Morris’ employment was first announced by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network Insider.
Morris worked with the Falcons in 2020 as defensive coordinator and then as interim head coach after Dan Quinn was fired, before joining
Rams staff in 2021.
After spending three years as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, Morris will now receive another chance in Atlanta and a second chance as a full-time head coach.
By doing this, Morris—who, like Emmitt Thomas, was an interim head coach—will become the first Black head coach in the history of the team to hold the position full-time.
Morris said in a statement released by the organization, “I am overjoyed for the opportunity for my family and I to return to Atlanta as the Falcons head coach.” “We have firsthand knowledge of Atlanta’s exceptional organization and the significance of this team to the community and its supporters. I am immensely grateful to Arthur Blank for his guidance and to the entire organization for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this team. I am incredibly grateful to the Rams organization for the chance and experience I had with the team. The Rams are an elite team in every way, from Sean McVay to Kevin Demoff, Les Snead, and the Kroenke family. We cherished our time in Los Angeles, the fans, and we are confident in the Rams’ bright future.”
The Falcons also revealed certain organizational changes at the same time they announced Morris’ hire.
Owner Arthur Blank will receive direct reports from Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, as opposed to Rich McKay, the CEO, as per the prior arrangement. In addition to continuing to serve on the NFL Competition Committee and represent the Falcons in league affairs, McKay will continue in his role as CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment.
“This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons — after a comprehensive search we are thrilled to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team’s new head coach,” Blank stated in a statement. “Raheem emerged from a pool of exceptional applicants and is the ideal leader to carry our team into the future. He has 26 years of experience in the NFL, including the last three in an extraordinary organization that has won our league’s title during that time. His experience in L.A. has allowed him to see things from a different angle on a variety of topics, including personnel, team dynamics, game planning, and working with a superb offensive staff. As a result, he has become an even more skilled coach overall. His grasp of what it takes to establish a highly collaborative one-team culture has advanced, and I think that his leadership abilities have improved.”
