The Atlanta Falcons have signed former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their head coach.
Morris had an in-person meeting scheduled with the Seattle Seahawks on Friday. He met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank and the Atlanta leadership group at Blank's home earlier this week A source told CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones that he “killed the interview.” The group was apparently impressed by his energy.
Morris spent the last three seasons with the Rams as defensive coordinator and helped LA win the Super Bowl in their home stadium during the 2021 season. Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey reacted to the news: Post on social media“The Falcons have one of, if not the best coach in the NFL for Real!”
He was previously part of the Falcons organization, working as assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2015 to 2019 and defensive coordinator in 2020. When Atlanta fired Dan Quinn in 2020, Morris took over and finished fourth-7 as the interim leadoff man. Morris also served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, where he went 17-31.
The Falcons interviewed a whopping 14 candidates for their head coaching job, including the legendary Bill Belichick. However, it was Morris who had the greatest influence on the Atlanta team. Morris replaces Arthur Smith, who was fired just hours after his third straight 7-10 season. Atlanta was 6-6 after 12 games this season, but ultimately fell 4-1. It was the third straight season the Falcons hit .500 and then collapsed at the end of the year.
Morris' young Rams defense finished the 2023 season ranked 20th in yards allowed per game (337.9 ypg) and 19th in points allowed per game (22.2 ypg). LA went 10-7 and made it into the playoffs as a wild card. Jones reports that Morris could tap current Rams passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson as his offensive coordinator.