Falcons Clean House After Season Finale, Fire Head Coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot

Atlanta, GA – The Atlanta Falcons are heading into the offseason with sweeping changes at the top. Just hours after defeating the New Orleans Saints in their regular-season finale, the Falcons announced Sunday they have fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, signaling a full reset for a franchise still searching for sustained success.

Team owner Arthur Blank said the decision came after determining the organization needed “new leadership” in both roles, despite strong personal regard for both men.

“I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons,” Blank said in a statement. “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 and leadership.”

Morris’ tenure as head coach lasted two seasons, during which Atlanta compiled a 16–18 overall record. The Falcons finished the 2025 season 8–9, eliminated from playoff contention with a month remaining, though the team closed the year on a four-game winning streak.

A New Jersey native, Morris took over as head coach in 2024 amid significant expectations that did not materialize. Fontenot joined the Falcons from the New Orleans Saints, where he had built a strong reputation in player personnel before taking over Atlanta’s front office. Hired as general manager in 2021, Fontenot spent five seasons overseeing roster construction but did not produce a single playoff appearance during his tenure.

While the late-season momentum offered some optimism, it was not enough to offset years of middling results and unmet expectations. The move comes despite clear support for Morris within the locker room. Star players Bijan Robinson and Drake London publicly voiced their desire to see Morris return. “I’m going to support Raheem no matter what,” Robinson said after Sunday’s win. “I love him as a big brother, father figure, coach — everything.” London echoed that sentiment, telling reporters, “I want Rah back with all my heart.”

Now, with both the head coach and general manager positions vacant, the Falcons face a pivotal offseason that could reshape the franchise’s direction for years to come. The Falcons did not announce a specific timeline for filling either position but confirmed they are already moving forward with the search.

As Blank acknowledged, the decision was not an easy one — but for a team still chasing postseason relevance, the message is clear: status quo is no longer enough in Atlanta.

Many fans point to owner Arthur Blank’s hands-on approach and repeated resets as evidence of deeper structural issues. While Blank is widely respected for his contributions to Atlanta and his commitment to the franchise, critics say stability has been elusive under his leadership.

“You can fire another coach, but until ownership changes, nothing really changes,” one fan wrote on social media shortly after the firings were announced. Others echoed similar sentiments, saying the organization lacks a clear long-term vision and accountability at the very top.

Calls for new ownership may be more symbolic than realistic — Arthur Blank has given no indication he intends to sell the team — but the sentiment reflects a fan base that feels exhausted, unheard, and desperate for sustained success.