Change is once again in the air for the Atlanta Falcons, and this time, it’s sweeping. Just hours after closing the 2025 NFL season with a gritty 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints, owner Arthur Blank made the call that many saw coming but few wanted to believe: both head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot are out. The Sunday night announcement marks the end of a tumultuous era defined by near-misses, quarterback quandaries, and a playoff drought that now stretches to nearly a decade.
The decision, according to Blank, wasn’t made lightly. In a statement released by the team, Blank said, “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 decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Let’s be honest: the results on the field have been tough for Falcons fans to swallow. Atlanta wrapped up the 2025 campaign with an 8-9 record, their eighth consecutive losing season, and missed the playoffs for the ninth straight year. Despite a late-season rally—winning four straight games to close things out—the Falcons’ fate was sealed by a midseason collapse and ongoing instability at the game’s most important position: quarterback.
Raheem Morris’s tenure as head coach lasted just two seasons, with a 16-18 record and no playoff appearances. He also previously served as interim head coach in 2020. Across his head coaching stints with both Tampa Bay and Atlanta, Morris’s record stands at 37-56. While Morris was hired in 2024 after a successful run as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams (including a Super Bowl victory), he simply couldn’t find the winning formula in Atlanta. Even the support of key players like Drake London, Jessie Bates III, and Bijan Robinson—who all voiced hope for Morris’s return—couldn’t sway ownership’s decision.
Terry Fontenot, meanwhile, departs after five seasons as general manager with a 37-48 record and no trips to the postseason. Fontenot joined the Falcons from the New Orleans Saints in 2021, inheriting a team in salary cap trouble and overseeing a revolving door at quarterback. Since franchise legend Matt Ryan was traded away in 2021, Atlanta cycled through Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Taylor Heinicke, Kirk Cousins, and Michael Penix Jr.—but none managed to seize the job for good.
The 2024 offseason was particularly chaotic. Fresh off a torn Achilles, Kirk Cousins was signed to a four-year, $180 million contract (with at least $100 million guaranteed). Then, just weeks later, the Falcons used the eighth overall pick on Michael Penix Jr., a move that left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. The plan, it seemed, was for Cousins to hold the fort while Penix developed. But reality proved more complicated.
Cousins started strong in 2024, helping the Falcons to a 6-3 start, but his play dipped during a four-game losing streak, and he was eventually benched for Penix. The rookie flashed promise but was inconsistent, and in 2025, he was handed the reins as the full-time starter. Penix’s numbers were underwhelming—just over one touchdown per start and a 60.1% completion rate. Then disaster struck in Week 11: Penix suffered a torn left ACL, his third major knee injury since college, and was sidelined for the rest of the year. He’s now expected to miss 9-12 months.
With Penix out, Cousins stepped back in and led Atlanta to four straight wins to close the year. Still, the team finished 8-9, and questions abound about the future under center. Cousins, now two years removed from his Achilles injury, is under contract for two more seasons, but the Falcons have a potential out in the offseason. Penix, meanwhile, remains a wild card. The quarterback conundrum is far from solved.
It’s not just the offense that’s a work in progress. Determined to fix a leaky defense, the Falcons invested heavily in that side of the ball during the 2025 NFL Draft. They spent their first four picks on defenders, including two first-round edge rushers: Jalon Walker (15th overall) and James Pearce Jr. (26th overall, acquired via a trade with the Los Angeles Rams). The pass rush improved, but the defense as a whole remained middling—barely moving up from 23rd in points allowed in 2024.
There are, however, some bright spots. Running back Bijan Robinson has blossomed into a bona fide star, and wide receiver Drake London continues to impress. On defense, the future looks promising with Walker, Pearce, and safety Xavier Watts anchoring a young core. The offensive line is solid, and the supporting cast is respectable. But with tight end Kyle Pitts set to hit free agency after his best season since 2021, Atlanta faces another big decision in the coming months. Will they pony up to keep one of their most dynamic weapons?
Perhaps the most pressing issue for the Falcons’ next regime: they don’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That chip was traded away to land Pearce, so any dreams of drafting a new franchise quarterback—should they decide to move on from both Cousins and Penix—will require some creative maneuvering.
The search for new leadership is already underway. Blank and the Falcons’ brass will look for a head coach and general manager who can finally break the cycle of mediocrity and return Atlanta to playoff relevance. The new hires will inherit a roster with talent but also plenty of question marks, especially at quarterback and in the secondary. The next few months promise to be pivotal for the direction of the franchise.
For now, Falcons fans are left with a familiar feeling: hope for better days ahead and the knowledge that, once again, the winds of change are blowing through Atlanta. The pieces are there, but it’ll take the right leadership—and maybe a little luck—to put them all together. The NFL offseason drama is just beginning in the Peach State.
