Atlanta Falcons Fire Head Coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot After Consecutive 8-9 Seasons
ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons abruptly ended their 2025 NFL season not only on the field but in the front office and coaching staff, firing head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night. The decision came immediately after the Falcons closed out another 8-9 season, falling short of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Raheem Morris, who was hired ahead of the 2024 season, was chosen over a slate of high-profile candidates including Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald, and Ben Johnson. Despite the strong competition, the Falcons placed their trust in Morris, whose previous experience included a Super Bowl-winning tenure as defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Falcons’ back-to-back sub-.500 finishes and failure to secure a postseason berth ultimately sealed his fate.
Owner Arthur Blank released a statement expressing his appreciation for both Morris and Fontenot, emphasizing the difficulty of the decision. “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. “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.”
The Falcons’ 8-9 record matched that of their division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, who claimed the NFC South title, highlighting just how close Atlanta was to breaking their playoff drought that dates back to 2017. One pivotal loss came against the New York Jets, a defeat that not only cost the Falcons a potential playoff spot but also impacted the Jets’ draft positioning. Had Atlanta won that game, the Jets would have dropped from the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to second.
Despite finishing the season strong with four consecutive wins, the Falcons’ late surge was not enough to salvage Morris’s job. The team’s general manager, Terry Fontenot, who had been instrumental in assembling the roster, was also relieved of his duties.
Morris’s history with the Falcons is extensive, having served in various roles including interim head coach in 2020 before his recent full-time appointment. He initially replaced Arthur Smith, who coached the Falcons for three seasons before moving on to become the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that clinched a playoff spot this season.
The Falcons’ search for new leadership will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, especially given the high-profile candidates passed over in the recent coaching hire. The organization’s next moves will be critical in determining whether Atlanta can finally return to postseason contention.
For more on NFL coaching changes and team management, visit the official NFL Falcons page and the NFL Players Association. For insights into NFL draft implications and team strategies, the NFL Draft official site provides detailed information. Additionally, the ESPN NFL coverage offers comprehensive analysis on coaching and management decisions across the league.
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