The Atlanta Falcons have hired Raheem Morris as their new head coach, the team announced on Thursday. This is the first former NFL head coach that owner Arthur Blank has hired for the role in over 20-year tenure.
“This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons,” Blank announced. “We are thrilled to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team’s new head coach. … Raheem emerged from a field of excellent candidates and is the right leader to take our team into the future.” Blank explained that he was convinced to hire Morris due to his time as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams over the past three seasons, lifting the Super Bowl trophy in 2021.
Morris was one of several candidates who proceeded to the second round of interviews with the club, along with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The Falcons are the only team that Belichick is known to have interviewed with since leaving the Pats following the end of their season. Morris served as the Falcons’ interim head coach in 2020, going 4-7 before the team hired Arthur Blank for the role. Morris previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 until 2011, going 17-31.
