The Atlanta Falcons took a difficult turn in their coaching search.
The Falcons, despite interviewing Bill Belichick twice, hired Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to fill their head coaching vacancy.
The Falcons made the deal official later Thursday.
“This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons; after an exhaustive search, we are thrilled to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team's new head coach,” team owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. . “With 26 years of NFL experience, including the last three in an outstanding organization that won our league championship in that time,
Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris answers questions from the media after mini camp on June 8, 2022, at the team facility at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
“Raheem emerged from a field of excellent candidates and is the right leader to lead our team into the future. His time in Los Angeles has given him an enhanced perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning , working with an outstanding offensive staff and “There are many other things that have helped him become an even more prepared coach in all aspects of the game. I think his leadership skills have grown and his understanding of what it takes to have a highly collaborative single-team culture is now at a much higher level.
Morris has been in Southern California since the 2021 season and won the Super Bowl in his first season there. He returns to Atlanta after serving in multiple roles from 2015 to 2020.
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Many thought the Falcons would bring in Belichick, as they seem to fit the mold of what Belichick supposedly wants: an up-and-coming team. They've had quarterback issues, but it's not out of the question that they could trade with the Chicago Bears for either the No. 1 pick (likely Caleb Williams) or their current quarterback, Justin Fields.
He is quite a pivot for Atlanta.
ESPN reported that Belichick was not a shoo-in for the Falcons job earlier Thursday.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before a game against the Atlanta Falcons. (Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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“They interviewed him for the second time last Friday in person,” Adam Schefter said on ESPN's “Get Up” on Thursday. “Since then, the Falcons have paraded a number of candidates for second and other interviews and have scheduled additional conversations with other candidates.
“That doesn't sound like a team that's ready to make a move on Bill Belichick… If they're wide open after meeting with Bill Belichick twice, that certainly tells you he's not the favorite for the job.”
Now, it's evident that Atlanta had another guy in mind.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris on the sidelines during a 34-14 victory over the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
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It would be Morris' second position as a head coach in the NFL. He was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011.
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