ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Falcons fired both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot after a second straight 8-9 season Sunday night. It means next fall there will be new leadership in Flowery Branch.
Players on Sunday and Monday expressed support for both men, especially Morris.
“I’m behind Ra, he hasn’t changed throughout this whole process,” said Jessie Bates, a Falcons linebacker.
One by one, players were vocal about wanting to see Morris back. But late Sunday, Morris met with Arthur Blank and was fired.
Monday morning, as they cleaned out their lockers, players expressed disappointment.
“That’s the nature of the business that we’re in. We’re here to win so, haven’t been so I understand, but definitely a little bit disappointed by it for sure,” linebacker Josh Woods said.
The Falcons finished the season on a four-game winning streak after starting the year 4-9. Morris and Fontenot were allowed to hold an emotional team meeting Monday morning to address the team a final time.
“It was hard for a lot of guys,” said long snapper Liam McCullough. “They’re great people and they have a massive amount of respect with the guys on this team. There were tears that were shed.”
In a letter to the Falcons’ fan base, Blank mentioned a number of changes coming. Rich McKay would no longer serve as president and CEO of the Falcons, moving to a similar role over the larger Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment organization. Greg Beadles would take over.
A new position will also be added, president of football, who will have final say on football decisions and will be pivotal in hiring the new head coach and general manager.
As the players braced for new leadership, they were vocal about what they would like to see in a new head coach.
“Somebody who holds everybody to a high standard,” Woods said. “More than anything somebody that can come in and win, create a winning culture.”
The Falcons have retained consultant groups ZRG Partners and Sportsology Group to help hire the head coach and general manager, respectively.
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