Hours after a season-ending win, one NFC South franchise made the kind of call that shakes a building. The Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday, ending a two-year run for Morris and a five-year tenure for Fontenot after another 8-9 finish.

It was a swift, decisive move. The team announced the changes after a meeting Sunday night. Owner Arthur Blank praised both men, but he was clear about the bottom line: the results were not good enough. The Falcons have not reached the playoffs since 2017 and have lived in the 7–8 win zone for most of the last eight seasons.

Why the Atlanta Falcons moved on now

The timing is striking. Atlanta closed the 2025 season on a four-game winning streak. But that hot finish could not mask the full picture. The Falcons went 8-9 in 2024 and 8-9 again in 2025. They had a four-game losing streak late in 2024 and a five-game slide in 2025. That roller coaster, paired with no playoff trips, set the stage for change.

Blank summed it up in the team release: “I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, 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.”

“Four straight wins don’t erase eight straight years of mediocrity.”

Raheem Morris’ record and the missed leap

Morris, who served as Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020 and previously led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finishes his Falcons head-coach stint at 16-18 across two seasons. His overall career record sits at 37-56. His teams played hard, and the late surge showed buy-in. But the leap to a winning record never came. In a parity-driven NFL, patience only stretches so far.

Fontenot’s five years brought some bold swings. The most debated: the quarterback plan that tried to balance win-now with plan-for-later, and the streaky results that followed.

Quarterback crossroads: Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.

In 2024, Atlanta paid big for Kirk Cousins, giving the veteran a four-year, $180 million contract. Then the Falcons doubled down on the position, drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall weeks later. It was a daring play, inviting instant questions about timelines and fit.

Penix opened 2025 as the starter, only to suffer a torn ACL in Week 11. Cousins finished the season, steady if unspectacular. The offense settled late, but the early and mid-season dips were costly. Fair or not, that QB tandem — and the injuries — became the defining story of this era.

“Drafting Penix after paying Cousins was always going to define this era.”

Arthur Blank’s bar and the long playoff drought

Blank’s message was both respectful and firm. He thanked Morris and Fontenot for their service and values, but he also pointed to the shared standard. Atlanta has waited since 2017 to see postseason football. Across eight seasons, the Falcons have posted either seven or eight wins in seven of them. That is consistency, but not the kind anyone wants.

The conclusion: it was time to reset the leadership and try to build a team that can win the NFC South and host playoff games again.

Inside the Falcons’ search: concurrent hires, outside help

The Falcons will run concurrent searches for head coach and general manager, a move that can tighten timelines but also align visions from Day 1. The organization has consulted Sportsology, a well-known advisory group, and it has hired search firms to map the candidate pool.

One notable wrinkle: the team is exploring a front-office role for franchise legend Matt Ryan. If that materializes, Atlanta would be banking on Ryan’s football mind and credibility to help shape the next phase.

“If Matt Ryan comes upstairs, make sure the coach can win now.”

Early Atlanta Falcons head-coach candidates to watch

Expect a wide net. Early names around the league and in reporting include a mix of offensive and defensive minds:

• Offense: Klint Kubiak (Seahawks OC), Todd Monken (Ravens OC), Mike LaFleur (Rams OC), Grant Udinski (Jaguars OC), Bobby Slowik, Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Brady, Eric Bieniemy (Bears RB coach).
• Defense: Chris Shula (Rams DC), Jesse Minter (Chargers DC), Anthony Weaver (Dolphins DC), Lou Anarumo (Colts DC), Jeff Hafley (Packers DC).
• Other notable figure mentioned: Kevin Stefanski.

That range shows Atlanta is open-minded about scheme and background. The key will be pairing the hire with a GM who shares the same plan for the roster and, most of all, the quarterback room.

What’s next for Falcons fans and the roster

The next regime inherits a roster with core pieces and a massive quarterback question. Cousins is under contract. Penix should work his way back from the ACL tear. The new coach must set a clear timeline: compete now with Cousins, build toward Penix, or try to do both without splitting the locker room.

There’s also the bigger culture and identity piece. The Falcons have fought hard for Morris, and that effort matters. But the new staff has to turn stretches of good ball into full-season consistency, so losing streaks do not sink the year before the December push even starts.

The bottom line: accountability and a fresh start

This decision is about accountability and urgency. Two straight 8-9 seasons and no playoff berth made the choice feel inevitable, even with a strong finish. Atlanta wants a leader who can turn close games into wins and win-now bets into January football.

For Morris and Fontenot, there will be interest elsewhere. For the Falcons, the mandate is simple and familiar: get back to relevance, then stay there. The fans have waited long enough.