Apparently, contrary to conventional wisdom, winning doesn’t solve everything. Not when you haven’t done enough of it.
That’s the lesson coming out of Flowery Branch as your Atlanta Falcons are once again looking for a new head coach and general manager, after another disappointing season where fans and observers alike were left shaking their heads at a team many thought had the talent to top the NFC South, but instead finished 8-9 for the second straight season, continuing an eight-year playoff drought. They didn’t help their case today by barely getting a win that ensured a competing NFC South team’s accession to postseason play.
Head Coach Raheem Morris and General Manager Terry Fontenot have been dismissed from their roles https://t.co/qW5yA3PxdY pic.twitter.com/kcMOUOjfeT
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 5, 2026
Two-year Falcons coach Raheem Morris and his boss, general manager Terry Fontenot were both given their walking papers four hours after their team survived to beat the hated New Orleans Saints 19-17. The Falcons once again survived to get an ugly win for a fifth straight game.
But Falcons Nation is tired of their team just surviving (or losing). And apparently, so is team owner Arthur Blank.
“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,” said Blank in a statement. “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.”
Here is the entire #Falcons press release, including the headline that the “search for successors to begin immediately.” @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/vWwoh4vGNm
— Kelly Price (@thekellyprice) January 5, 2026
The Falcons aren’t waiting to find their new leaders. The team has hired ZRG Partners to help find a new head coach, and Sportsology Group will help with finding a new GM. No timeline is set for completing the searches, which start “immediately.”
And Fontenot and Morris likely won’t be the last exiting Flowery Branch before this year’s NFL Combine starts.
The final game for Morris and Fontenot wasn’t a decisive victory, but a victory nevertheless. And one they desperately needed to avoid an embarrassing headline of losing a game to the hated Saints in a half-empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as if the Falcons needed anymore embarassing headines this season.
Actually, the biggest winners of this Week 18 game weren’t the Dirty Birds themselves, but the team several miles northwest who embarrassed them twice this season and needed the Falcons to beat the Saints to take control of the NFC South, the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons did their job, so the Panthers win the NFC South and the chance to compete in the offseason that goes with that accomplishment.
And what does the home team get?
- An 8-9 record, same as last season, which ties them with the Bucs and Panthers in the sorry NFC South.
- Continuing derision from fans and sports media over another losing season.
- A new head coach, general manager, and possibly more pink slips to come to Falcons HQ.
- Another off-season of ruminating, second-guessing, speculation, and sizing up of potential new talent (that won’t come from a traded first-round draft pick, of course)
For this game, the Falcons once again had to work hard to stay ahead of the competition. The Saints succeeded in slowing down Bijan Robinson, who still managed to set some personal bests. But a reportedly sickly QB Kirk Cousins relied on the dynamic duo of Drake London (78 yards from 4 receptions, 1 touchdown) and Kyle Pitts (58 yards from 6 recs.) to move the ball down the field. Both teams’ defenses kept each other stymied, and neither’s offenses were able to put many points on the board (notice the anemic final score). Kicker Zane Gonzalez was responsible for 13 of the Falcons’ points, going 4 of 4 in field goals and a point after attempt. He is the Baller of the Game.
They got the win, but now the offseason starts. And with the coach and GM office now vacant, the speculation and questions about the Falcons future will once again kick into overdrive as the temperatures heat up.
“I want to continue to play,” said Cousins, who may or may not be back as a Falcon next season. “I would love to play here. You just kind of see where it goes.” Cousins went 18 of 32 today for 180 yards. He had one TD and an interception.
Now former head coach Raheem Morris was spotted giving Arthur and his son Josh Blank a hug during the press conference. He said he felt like he would be back and continue his coaching duties as long as Blank allows him to. He gave no hit that his future with the Dirty Birds would soon end hours later. Neither did his former boss.
Raheem Morris when asked about his future tonight with Arthur Blank feet away.
“I’m gonna coach this football team as long as he allows me.” @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/cNmGANWUUn
— Kinsey Lee (@kinseyleetv) January 5, 2026
His players voiced support for their coach.
“I want Rah back with all my heart,” said London after the game.
“I support Raheem no matter what,” said Robinson to ESPN reporter Marc Raimondi. “I love him as a big brother, as a father figure, as a coach. Everything.”
So what happened? Many thought Blank would give Morris one more year to turn the team around, but the sting of yet another losing season, and the fact that the Falcons were one win short of the fortune the Panthers are enjoying thanks to the Dirty Birds’ win today, was simply too much.
Falcons Nation has been preening for long overdue change. Few folks will be satisfied if, after eight consecutive years without a playoff appearance or an above .500 season, the best the Dirty Birds can do is another tired call for fans to “Rise Up” once again and hope the team finally makes something happen next season. And they certainly would not tolerate it with a reprise of the same regime that led to previous losing seasons.
Whatever happens next season, playoff/Super Bowl bound or more of the same, where the Falcons end up this time next year depends on what they do starting now.
With two high-level firings already, this offseason will be yet another heavily watched and scrutinized one for the Falcons.
NOTES
- The ousting of Fontenot and Morris makes growing rumors of ex-QB, now CBS broadcaster Matt Ryan’s return to Flowery Branch closer to reality. Sports journalist Josina Anderson said in a X post that “Ryan’s voice is already active” in Flowery Branch, citing a league source.
Behind the Scenes the #Falcons have been discussing resetting their structure for weeks now. Terry Fontenont is out as GM and it may not stop there, per league source.
Arthur Blank is taking back control of his building. https://t.co/Gzkbj1UYgJ
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 5, 2026
- Blank will have more to say about tonight’s events in a press conference Thursday morning, reports Falcons senior writer Tori McElhaney.
- Morris will be the SEVENTH head coach the Falcons have had in the last 20 years: Jim Mora, Bobby Petrino, Emmitt Thomas, Mike Smith, Dan Quinn, Morris (interim), Arthur Smith, and Morris (as head coach).
- The Falcons still are not converting on 3rd down as they should. They went 4 of 14 today. That could determine whether or not OC Zac Robinson follows Morris out the door.
- The “help wanted” sign going back up at Flowery Branch outshone news of huge accomplishments for the Falcons: 22 rookies have had 10.5 or more sacks since this record was counted in 1982. 11 of those rookies won Defensive Rookie of the Year. (via Tori McElhaney.)
- Xavier Watts, Dee Alford, and Jessie Bates III are tied for second-most players with 3+ interceptions in the NFL this season.
- If it wasn’t the season of Bijan Robinson, it wasn’t the season for anyone. He’s racked up 2,293 total yards. He’s fourth in the NFL this season with 1,445 yards.
- Drake London wasn’t very happy minutes after scoring the Falcons’ only TD. Cameras caught him visibly upset, slamming his helmet to the ground after the score. WSB TV’s Zach Klein asked him about the reaction after the game.
Falcons WR Drake London….
worth a listen pic.twitter.com/CAKtxdGzTL
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) January 4, 2026
