As the Atlanta Falcons look to usher in a new era of football, they’ll be defined by the coaching staff brought in after the 2023 season. Head coach Raheem Morris has brought in many staffers from previous stops, including his offensive and defensive coordinators, Zac Robinson and Jimmy Lake.
However, not all of his staff is from out of town. Special teams coordinator Marquice Williams, who has held that position with the Falcons since 2021, will remain on Morris’ staff.
Williams, though, hasn’t worked with Morris before. Without the long-term connection that so many coaching hires seem to be built upon, Williams’ decision is as much a leap of faith as it is an opportunity to keep things consistent. Earlier this week, he spoke about what went into his decision to work with Morris.
“I’ve known Raheem for a while," Williams said. "I’ve never worked for Raheem but we have mutual colleagues and friends that he’s worked with, that I’ve worked with that were mentors of mine and it just ended up working out that way.
“I’m very excited to work with Coach Morris. He’s an amazing individual as you talk about him as a person, as a man, as a father, a husband, and as a coach.”
After ranking 22nd in special teams defense-adjusted value over average in 2021, Atlanta rose to fifth in that same metric the next season. In 2023, the Falcons fell back to 27th, backed by a Pro Football Focus special teams grade that ranked 30th in the NFL.
Williams’ admiration stems from a reputation that speaks for himself. Morris has been a head coach before – 2009-2011 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – and held multiple defensive coordinator jobs before. Few have as long of a resumé with such consistent backing. Whether it be Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay or the players he’s coached, it seems people only have good things to say about Morris.
“He’s a multiplier and I believe that leaders build leaders,” Williams said. “Any opportunity to work with a coach, a professional, and a Super Bowl champ like Coach Morris, those are opportunities that you can’t pass up. I’m very fortunate and blessed to be a part of this organization and this coaching staff.”
Atlanta’s hirings have been widely supported, for faces both new and old. Perhaps there’s a honeymoon phase to each coaching tenure, but the Falcons seem to have gotten off on the right foot, even without a total replenishing.
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