Interim Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has his team playing well following Dan Quinn‘s dismissal, and it has caught the attention of Atlanta decision-makers. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Morris has a good chance to be named the team’s permanent HC after the season.
Under Morris, the Falcons have gone 3-1, and the one loss was a 23-22 heartbreaker against the Lions that came on a last-second score (and if not for a poor decision by running back Todd Gurley, Detroit wouldn’t even have had the chance to possess the ball for the game-winning drive). Atlanta’s performance has improved on both sides of the ball, and Morris’ leadership abilities represent another highlight on his resume.
The fact that Morris has now been with the Falcons in a number of different roles since 2015 further helps his cause, as do his strong ties with team president Rich McKay. He was one of the youngest head coaches in league history when he helmed the Buccaneers from 2007-09, and it looks like he might not be too far away from another shot, whether that’s with the Falcons or someone else.
For now, though, Atlanta is focused on replacing deposed GM Thomas Dimitroff. La Canfora says the club is putting its list of candidates together and hopes to hold some interviews next month. Former Texans general manager Rick Smith, who also has a history with McKay, is one person the club would like to meet with.
Presumably, whoever the new general manager is will get to choose the team’s permanent head coach, but that person will have to give strong consideration to Morris if the Falcons continue to play well down the stretch.
That schedule looks brutal for the Falcons. Saints/Bucs twice and KC.
Well continue to evaluate
It will test Raheem’s mettle
Then reconvene at the end of the season
To me so far, he should get another year.
Agreed! Doing better than Quinn and the team seems rejuvenated since the change.
Will the Falcons gets 2 extra 3 round picks for promoting w/in?
The Falcons look like utter garbage today, especially the defense and the O Line, so they may want to hold off on a decision.
The O-Line is just a mess. It was like a jailbreak every time Ryan went back to pass. It takes Julio too long to get open these days and that doesn’t help.
I hope those young guys on the line start to get better. Some fans think Ryan is done, but it wouldn’t matter if TB12 in his prime was back there as bad as this line is. They need to get better there or any young QB they might draft will be shell-shocked from day one. Either the OLine coach needs to go, or the OC needs to go and they need to start running an offense that fits there horrible pass blocking.