At a Glance
- Falcons fire head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot after 8-9 season
- Owner Arthur Blank cites unmet expectations on field
- Falcons finished season with 4-game win streak, lost playoff spot to Panthers
Why it matters: The franchise’s leadership overhaul signals a new direction as it seeks a playoff return.
The Atlanta Falcons announced a sweeping change in coaching and management, terminating head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after a season that ended 8-9. Owner Arthur Blank said the decision was driven by results that fell short of expectations. The move comes as the team finished with a four-game win streak but missed the NFC South title.
Leadership Shake-Up
The Falcons released both Morris and Fontenot on Sunday. Arthur Blank stated:
> “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 team has not set a timetable for the searches, but will use ZRG Partners for the head coach and Sportsology Group for the GM. Both searches will run concurrently.
- ZRG Partners assists head coach search
- Sportsology Group assists GM search
- No timetable announced
Record Snapshot
| Coach | Record |
|---|---|
| Raheem Morris | 8-9 (both seasons) |
| Terry Fontenot | 36-48 (no winning seasons, no playoffs) |
The Falcons finished the year tied for the NFC South record but lost the division to the Carolina Panthers, who secured a playoff berth with an 8-9 record.
Key Takeaways
- Falcons fired head coach and GM after 8-9 season
- Owner highlighted unmet on-field expectations
- New searches to begin with ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group
The franchise’s overhaul reflects a desire to rebuild and aim for a playoff return in the coming seasons.
