Bill Belichick speech to Atlanta falcons club as Raheem Morris to be their new head coach instead of him.

The Atlanta Falcons select Raheem Morris to be their new head coach instead of Bill Belichick.

On October 3, 2021, in Inglewood, California, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris observes players getting ready for an NFL football match against the Arizona Cardinals. Following a thorough search that included six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick, the Atlanta Falcons have selected Morris as their coach, a source familiar with the decision informed The Associated Press on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/File: Kyusung Gong)

Atlanta, Georgia — After a thorough search that included six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick, the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their head coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Due to the lack of an announcement from the team, the speaker only agreed to remain anonymous.
Having been the Falcons’ interim head coach for the final 11 games of the 2020 season following Dan Quinn’s sacking, 47-year-old Morris is well-known in Atlanta. He spent three seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ coach in the past.

Following a thorough search that included interviews with 14 candidates—Belichick being the most notable—the Falcons chose Morris.

The organization interviewed offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik of the Houston Texans again earlier on Thursday, but ultimately chose to hire a coach who was employed in Atlanta from 2015 to 2020.

Morris joins general manager and becomes the first Black coach in Falcons history to not be an interim leader.

Morris transferred to the Rams after Arthur Smith was chosen for the Falcons position following the 2020 campaign. He was that team’s defensive coordinator for three seasons, winning a Super Bowl in his first year of service.

Shortly after the Falcons’ last game of the regular season, Smith was let go. In each of his three seasons, he finished 7–10.

When Morris was hired by the Buccaneers as head coach for the first time in 2009, he was only 33 years old. He played for three seasons, ending with a 17-31 record, one winning season, and no postseason trips.

Morris previously served as Quinn’s pass game coordinator, receivers coach, and secondary coach in Atlanta, working on both sides of the line.

Prior to the 2020 campaign, he was elevated to defensive coordinator, then, after Quinn was sacked after a 0–5 start, to interim head coach.

Morris finished his tenure as head coach with a 21-38 record after leading the Falcons to a 4-7 record for the remainder of the season. He was the first of seven applicants to interview for the full-time position that was ultimately filled by Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Smith.

Morris is only the second head coach in Atlanta history to hold the position for two terms. Marion Campbell was the head coach from 1974–1976 and again from 1987–1989; however, he was unable to lead the team to victory during either of his tenures.