The Atlanta Falcons finished the season 8-9 and missed the playoffs. They ended the season on a four-game winning streak, but it was not enough to save Raheem Morris’ job.
The Falcons fired him, and the head coach concluded his tenure in Atlanta with a record of 20-25, having missed the playoffs in each of his seasons.
Replacements For Raheem Morris
Falcons owner Arthur Blank released a statement after firing Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot. “I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons,” He wrote. “But I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward.”
“The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership,” Blank added. “I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Here are the five candidates Falcons should target to replace Morris:
5. Zac Robinson
An in-house option cannot be ruled out, even if fans are not thrilled with how this season has unfolded. Zac Robinson, Atlanta’s current offensive coordinator, fits that profile and has been mentioned before as a future head coaching candidate.
Robinson is part of Sean McVay’s coaching tree and previously spent two seasons as the Los Angeles Rams’ passing game coordinator. He would provide continuity while also shifting the franchise toward a more offense-focused direction.
4) Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury developed a reputation for rigid tendencies during his time with the Arizona Cardinals, but he has displayed noticeably more adaptability in his first season as offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders.
Although Washington finished the 2025 season at 5-12, many of the team’s struggles stemmed from an overwhelming number of injuries. Even so, Kingsbury consistently had his quarterbacks prepared each week, whether it was Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, or Josh Johnson taking snaps. With the Falcons having immense talent, he would be a great pick for them.
3. Chris Shula
Chris Shula has earned strong endorsements, including praise from McVay, who has openly stated Shula would make an excellent head coach. Given his role as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, the pedigree and preparation are clearly there.
Shula has reportedly drawn interest from the New York Giants, meaning Atlanta would likely face competition. Still, his work reshaping the Rams’ defense makes him a candidate worth serious consideration.
2. Jeff Hafley
Jeff Hafley, currently with the Green Bay Packers, may be the leading head coaching candidate this cycle. He has overseen a dramatic turnaround of Green Bay’s defense and has taken it to another level this season.
While adding Micah Parsons certainly helped, Hafley’s scheme design and play-calling have been just as impactful. With prior head coaching experience at the college level, he may not remain in Green Bay much longer.
1. Mike LaFleur
Another familiar name from the McVay tree, Mike LaFleur, continues to gain traction as a future head coach. He has played a major role in helping Matthew Stafford produce MVP-level performances and has steadily risen within league coaching circles.
While he may not carry the same name recognition as his brother, Matt LaFleur, it appears to be only a matter of time before Mike gets his opportunity. With Atlanta’s offensive talent, his creativity and offensive background could be an ideal fit.
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, the Rams have the best offense in the league, and it shows how good LaFleur has been this season.
