Report: Atlanta Falcons to hire Los Angeles Rams DC Raheem Morris as head coach

The Atlanta Falcons are planning to hire Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their next head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported. The Falcons casted a wide net with their coaching search, speaking with big names such as Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh and Mike Vrabel, among others.

Morris has been the defensive coordinator in Los Angeles since 2021, and previously worked in Atlanta in the same role in 2020. He then took over as the interim head coach that year after the departure of Dan Quinn, amassing a 4-7 record following an 0-5 start under Quinn.

Morris also has head coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11. He had a 17-31 record during that time before heading back to the assistant coaching ranks with Washington from 2012-14. Atlanta then hired him as an assistant head coach and passing game coordinator in 2015, and he worked his way up to wide receivers coach and defensive coordinator.

The decision to move on Morris signals the end of a long coaching search for the Falcons as they worked to replace Arthur Smith. All told, they interviewed 14 candidates for the job. Belichick and Harbaugh both received second interviews, although Harbaugh canceled after he took the Los Angeles Chargers job. In fact, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was in the building Thursday before the news broke.

The Falcons get someone ‘they know well’ by hiring Raheem Morris as their next head coach

Considering how much time Morris spent with the Falcons organization, the franchise is bringing back a familiar face as they enter their next phase. Schefter had more details during NFL Live shortly after the news broke, walking through the search process that ultimately led Atlanta to decide on MOrris.

“The Atlanta Falcons are planning to hire Raheem Morris, who was the interim head coach in Atlanta, he’s the Rams defensive coordinator, but they are moving forward in that direction,” Schefter said. “We get another hire from the NFC South with Raheem Morris getting that job in Atlanta. Again, a lot of qualified candidates. They spent today meeting with Bobby Slowik, the Texans offensive coordinator, they had Mike Vrabel in the building yesterday.

“But today, they are moving forward with Raheem Morris as the hire in Atlanta as their head coach. … And it’s a situation where the Falcons are going back to somebody they know well, somebody who’s been in the organization. Raheem Morris is now in line to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.”

With Atlanta’s decision, it means five head coaching jobs are off the board. That leaves just two left, and three big names remain in the field — Belichick, Vrabel and Pete Carroll. Schefter said that’s the next part of the conversation after the Falcons’ decision considering the pedigree those coaches bring to the table.

“And now, again, I want to lay this out for everybody because there are two hires left: Washington [and] Seattle,” Schefter said. “Mike Vrabel doesn’t appear to be in play there, Bill Belichick doesn’t appear to be in play there, Pete Carroll doesn’t appear to be in play there. So there are some big names here that are left on the dance floor as of right now with this particular move.”