The first head coach and general manager of the offseason has been fired. After another disappointing season, the Atlanta Falcons decided it was time for a change. They did eventually turn it around to force a three-way tie for the NFC South crown, but still didn’t win the division. The front office saw enough after two losing seasons and fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot.
The Falcons Clean House
Morris spent two seasons as the head coach of the Falcons. He didn’t notch a single winning season. In both seasons with him at the helm, the Falcons finished 8-9.
Fontenot was the general manager for five seasons. He was there for the tenure of Arthur Smith and Morris. But after the Morris experiment didn’t go to plan, it was time to move on from him as well.
The Falcons have plenty of talent, but couldn’t put it together and disappointed during Morris’ tenure. It was time for a change in Atlanta.
Sources: Raheem Morris is out as the Falcons head coach. pic.twitter.com/TQEaaQ79oQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2026
Morris is the first domino to fall in the coaching carousel of the offseason. He was on the hot seat after their poor start, but couldn’t do enough to save his job. Now, the Falcons can get ahead of teams as they start to compile their list of potential successors.
The Falcons have plenty of talent on their roster. They have superstar offensive weapons in Bijan Robinson and Drake London. London and Robinson expressed their support for their head coach, but the poor results weren’t enough to outweigh how the players felt about him.
MORE:Â Raheem Morris Replacements: 5 Coaches Falcons Should Target After Massive Change in Atlanta
The defense has ballers as well, with James Pearce Jr. looking like a dangerous edge rusher and Xavier Watts proving to be a steal from the draft. A.J. Terrell Jr. is a great building block for a secondary. These dudes can play. The Falcons are simply better than their record shows, but Morris couldn’t maximize their talent.
Fontenot built a good roster, but in the NFL, you don’t get to hire a third head coach unless you’ve proven you deserve it.
The Falcons are also firing GM Terry Fontenot, per source. pic.twitter.com/T7oSoQYW00
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 5, 2026
He swung and missed on the Kirk Cousins signing and hasn’t built a playoff roster, whether the talent resembled a playoff team. Fontenot didn’t accomplish anything to warrant that opportunity. Mediocrity has to change, and the Falcons made a proactive move to clean house.
Atlanta will be an attractive destination for potential head coaches. The talent on both sides of the ball is intriguing. They have a quarterback, elite weapons, a solid offensive line, and talent on defense. The question remains whether the Falcons will look for an offensive or defensive-minded head coach, and it will be a storyline to follow as the offseason gets underway for many squads.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
