ATLANTA — In a stunning end to the season, the Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, the team announced Sunday night. The moves come just hours after the Falcons secured a 19-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, capping an 8-9 campaign that fell short of playoff expectations.
Owner Arthur Blank, in a statement released by the organization, expressed regret over the decision but emphasized the need for change. "I have great personal affinity 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," Blank said. He added, "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 met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits."
The Falcons confirmed that searches for replacements in both positions will begin immediately, signaling a full reset for the franchise as it heads into the offseason. This development marks the end of Fontenot's five-year tenure with Atlanta, which began in 2021 when he joined as general manager. Morris, meanwhile, had just completed his second season at the helm after being hired in January 2024.
Despite the late-season surge—Atlanta won its final four games, including the narrow win over the Saints— the overall performance under Morris was underwhelming. The team finished 16-18 across his two years, failing to secure a winning record in either campaign. Players voiced their support for continuity following Sunday's game, with wide receiver Drake London expressing strong sentiments in the locker room. "I want Rah back with all my heart," London said, a feeling echoed by safety Jessie Bates III and running back Bijan Robinson, who both hoped for Morris and Fontenot to return.
However, the broader context of Atlanta's struggles painted a picture of prolonged underachievement. The Falcons have not made the playoffs since 2017, enduring the second-longest postseason drought in the NFL. Over the past eight seasons, the team has not posted a winning record, a streak that Fontenot's arrival was meant to break. At 45 years old, Fontenot was stepping into his first general manager role after spending 17 seasons with the Saints, most recently as their assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel.
Fontenot's time in Atlanta was marked by efforts to stabilize the roster following a salary cap crisis. He played a key role in navigating the financial mess left from previous regimes, but the results on the field remained elusive. The Falcons went 7-10 in each of Arthur Smith's three seasons as coach—a period that overlapped with Fontenot's early years—before Smith was fired after the 2023 season. Morris was then brought in as his replacement, fresh off a successful stint as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, where he helped secure a Super Bowl title in 2022.
Morris, 49, brought a wealth of experience to Atlanta, including prior stints with the Falcons themselves. He joined the staff in 2015, became defensive coordinator in 2020 under Dan Quinn, and even served as interim head coach that year after Quinn's dismissal. His only prior head coaching experience came earlier in his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, where he compiled a 17-31 record over three seasons.
Central to the Falcons' frustrations has been the ongoing quarterback carousel since the departure of franchise cornerstone Matt Ryan, who was traded away in 2021. Under Fontenot's watch, Atlanta cycled through five signal-callers: Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins, and rookie Michael Penix Jr. None has emerged as a long-term solution, a failure that sources close to the organization cite as Fontenot's ultimate downfall.
The most high-profile misstep came during the 2024 offseason. The Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal worth at least $100 million in guaranteed money, despite Cousins recovering from a torn Achilles tendon sustained the previous year. Just six weeks later, with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft, they selected Penix out of Washington, a move that raised eyebrows about the team's planning. The intention, according to team officials, was for Cousins to lead in the present while grooming Penix as the future starter.
Early in the 2024 season, the strategy appeared to pay off. Cousins delivered strong performances, guiding Atlanta to a 6-3 start and injecting optimism into a franchise starved for success. But the momentum evaporated during a brutal four-game losing streak, prompting the coaching staff to bench Cousins in Week 16 in favor of Penix. The rookie showed flashes of his potential but was plagued by inconsistency across 12 starts.
Penix's season ended prematurely in Week 11 when he suffered a torn left ACL, an injury that is expected to sideline him for nine to 12 months. According to medical reports, the setback leaves the Falcons facing yet another quarterback void heading into 2025. This injury, combined with Cousins' late-season slump, underscored the instability at the position that has hampered the team's progress.
The firings cap a disappointing arc for both Morris and Fontenot, who entered their roles with high hopes of revitalizing a dormant contender. Atlanta's defense, coordinated by Morris during his Rams tenure, was expected to shore up a unit that had been middling at best. Offensively, the pieces seemed in place with talents like Robinson, London, and Bates, but execution faltered at critical moments.
As the Falcons embark on their searches, the landscape of available candidates could be competitive. The NFL coaching carousel often features a mix of proven coordinators and up-and-coming assistants, while general manager roles demand expertise in scouting, contracts, and cap management—areas where Fontenot had mixed success. Blank's statement hinted at a desire for leadership that can deliver immediate results, potentially accelerating the team's timeline to contention.
The broader implications for Atlanta extend beyond the front office. With the longest active playoff drought in the NFC, the pressure is on to avoid another rebuild cycle. Fans, who have endured years of mediocrity, may view these changes as a necessary purge, though the loss of familiar faces like Morris—who has deep ties to the organization—could stir mixed emotions. As searches ramp up, all eyes will be on how quickly the Falcons can assemble a new regime capable of ending the eight-year winless streak and returning to the postseason.
For now, the focus shifts to the offseason, where draft preparations and free agency loom large. The Falcons' brain trust will need to address the quarterback question decisively, perhaps through another high draft pick or a blockbuster trade. Until then, Sunday's victory feels bittersweet, a final highlight in a season defined by unfulfilled promise.