Falcons’ Raheem Morris still on hot seat despite late-season surge

While Raheem Morris’ second stint as Atlanta Falcons HC is only finishing Year 2, the organization has had much more time to evaluate him due to a lengthy stay the first time around. Morris was on Dan Quinn‘s staff for five years before being tabbed interim HC for much of the 2020 season.

The Falcons are winding down their eighth straight season without a playoff berth, moving Morris onto a hot seat. A report from early December pointed to Atlanta making another HC change, but the team has since won three straight games. The Falcons have beaten the Buccaneers, Cardinals and Rams, but they are still guaranteed to finish with a losing record. This belated resurgence notwithstanding, Morris may not have done enough to save his job, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.

Will Raheem Morris keep his job as Atlanta Falcons evaluate football operations?

Arthur Blank, who drew considerable scrutiny after backing off his initial Bill Belichick preference to hire Morris, has hired a consulting firm and is evaluating his football operations after the 4-9 start. Blank gave Arthur Smith three seasons — all with 7-10 records — and fired Quinn after a slow start followed two straight playoff absences. A defensive coach who did spend time on the offensive side of the ball during his first Atlanta stint, Morris has overseen a significant pass-rushing improvement this season — as Atlanta’s 53 sacks are second in the NFL — but the bottom line has not moved much.

If Morris is retained, Fowler adds major staff changes would be expected. The team did not see Michael Penix Jr. take a step forward this season. Erratic play preceded the second-year passer’s season-ending injury. Zac Robinson, a coveted OC candidate in 2024, may not reach a third season in Atlanta regardless of Morris’ status. And Fowler adds the Falcons’ special teams issues could lead to a change. Marquice Williams has been in charge of Atlanta’s ST units for the past two seasons.

Morris will have the chance to state his case, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. The past three games have certainly shown the team has not quit on its HC, but Morris is 36-56 as a coach — counting his Bucs tenure and interim year post-Quinn. The Falcons’ struggles late under Quinn and through Smith’s tenure may not be doing Morris any favors, as he is the one presiding over a playoff drought that only tops the Jets’ 15-season skid among active streaks.

Fontenot’s convoluted quarterback strategy from 2024 has hamstrung Morris, given Kirk Cousins‘ salary as a primary backup, but Cousins’ presence has also ended up helping in a healthier season for the aging QB. Cousins has piloted the Falcons to more wins than Penix did, going 4-3 as a starter. That may be damning at this point, as the primary objective for this season — beyond snapping the playoff drought — was developing the former No. 8 overall pick.

As a result of all this, Morris is fighting for his job in Week 18. Morris went 8-9 last season and could match that this year; the Falcons were coming off six consecutive seasons with seven wins or less when Morris was hired. The Falcons also have been unable to snap their postseason drought despite playing in what has been the NFL’s worst division during this span. A blowout loss to the rival Saints sunk Smith two seasons ago; will Morris be able to survive regardless of this New Orleans result?