In a dramatic end-of-season shake-up, the Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. The decision was announced late on Sunday, mere hours after the team concluded its 2023 campaign with a narrow 19-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
A Decisive Move After Falling Short
The dismissals follow a second straight 8-9 season under Morris and extend the franchise's painful run to eight consecutive losing seasons. Despite a late surge of four consecutive wins, which left the Falcons in a three-way tie for the NFC South lead, the team had already been eliminated from playoff contention. The division title ultimately went to the Carolina Panthers due to a superior record within the division.
Owner Arthur Blank, who attended Morris's postgame press conference and shared an embrace with the coach, stated that the results simply did not meet the organisation's standards. "I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons," Blank said. "But I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward. The results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans."
Post-Game Optimism Meets Swift Reality
Just prior to the announcement, Morris had expressed his hope to return for a third season. When questioned about his future, he remarked, "You know, my expectation is always to be back, right? I’m going to coach this football team as long as he allows it." His tenure concludes with an overall record of 16-18 across two seasons, a mark insufficient to secure his position after a year that began with genuine playoff aspirations.
Fontenot's exit concludes a four-year stint as general manager, during which the Falcons compiled a 36-48 record. His tenure, however, showed recent promise through the 2025 draft class. Rookies like first-round picks James Peace Jr and Jalon Walker led all NFL newcomers in sacks, while third-round selection Xavier Watts topped the rookie charts with five interceptions.
Search for New Leadership Begins
The Falcons organisation has confirmed that concurrent searches for both a new head coach and a new general manager will begin immediately. This marks a critical juncture for the franchise as it seeks to finally reverse its fortunes and return to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
The move underscores the high-stakes, results-driven nature of the National Football League, where even a late-season winning streak and clear signs of player development are not always enough to preserve key roles when overarching goals remain unmet.
