January 4, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons have fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot following the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention in early December, and while Atlanta did finish the year on a four-game winning streak, it wasn't enough to save either of their jobs. Morris' second stint as an NFL head coach lasted just two years. He led the Falcons to back-to-back 8-9 seasons, missing the playoffs on both occasions despite having a strong defense and a star-studded offense led by Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Morris has experience coaching on both sides of the ball, so he should generate some interest as a potential coordinator hire this offseason. Meanwhile, Fontenot was fired after five seasons with the organization. The Falcons had five losing seasons under his leadership, and they finished third or worse in the NFC South on four of those five occasions. He deserves credit for drafting Robinson and London, as well as fortifying Atlanta's defense. However, he also deserves criticism for a variety of moves, including a confusing sequence in which the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal and then proceeded to spend a first-round pick on Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons have a strong roster in the NFL's weakest division, so their head coach and general manager openings should be attractive to candidates this offseason. It's not immediately clear which candidates the Falcons will target, but Jay Glazer of FOX Sports did previously report that the team could hire former quarterback Matt Ryan to a prominent front office role.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ian Rapoport