"The Falcons have not made the playoffs nor had a winning record since 2017, and owner Arthur Blank's patience has clearly worn thin. Fontenot did not put forth a winning team in five years as GM. Morris went 8-9 in both of his seasons. The Falcons had a four-game losing streak in 2024 and a five-game losing streak in 2025."
"The Falcons have a good, young core -- running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker -- but the next regime will not have the benefit of a first-round pick in 2026. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is sidelined with a torn ACL and the jury is still out on whether he can be a top-flight QB."
"Fowler: Because the wins, though noble and proved that Morris hadn't lost the locker room, were largely hollow. The Falcons needed that intensity when they were going 3-7 through the first 10 games. At that point, sources around the league expected Atlanta to make a change. The winning streak made some on the staff cautiously optimistic. But it wasn't enough."
The Atlanta Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot and will conduct a concurrent search for both positions. The team has not reached the playoffs or posted a winning record since 2017. Morris finished 8-9 in each season, and Fontenot failed to produce a winning team in five years. The Falcons endured multi-game losing streaks in 2024 and 2025. The roster includes young talent such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker, but the team lacks a 2026 first-round pick. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is sidelined with a torn ACL, and questions remain about long-term quarterback stability after Kirk Cousins struggled and sustained injuries.
Read at ESPN.com
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