On February 5, 2017, Raheem Morris found himself on the sidelines of Super Bowl LI as an assistant coach for the Falcons, witnessing their commanding 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots, only to experience the infamous turnaround. Exactly seven years later, Morris, now the Falcons head coach, expressed his readiness for redemption.
Reflecting on the critical moment in 2016 when the Falcons fell short of Super Bowl victory, Morris, during his introductory press conference, conveyed his eagerness to rewrite the narrative associated with Atlanta and the Super Bowl. Despite the Falcons not returning to the pinnacle, Morris achieved success as the Rams’ defensive coordinator, contributing to their championship win in 2022.
Describing Atlanta as home several times, Morris returned in 2020 after an interim head coaching stint and six seasons with the Falcons. The 47-year-old coach saw the experience of not landing the head coaching position three seasons ago as a valuable learning opportunity, emphasizing the importance of taking time apart to grow.
His time away with the Rams provided insights into effective collaboration between a general manager and head coach, experiencing the highs of a championship, missing the postseason, and navigating a rebuild. Morris expressed gratitude for the experience with the Rams, stating that it made him better equipped to return to Atlanta and complete the unfinished business of 2016.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and team president Greg Beadles praised Morris for his humility and growth in Los Angeles, citing these qualities as reasons for bringing him back to Atlanta. Fontenot asserted their commitment to securing another championship for Morris, who has been part of three Super Bowls and earned two rings.
Morris, along with Falcon’s leadership, believes in the current team’s potential to win immediately. When asked about his preferences on the current Falcons roster, Morris quickly mentioned offensive standouts Drake London and Bijan Robinson. With a foundation of a top-15 defense led by Jessie Bates III and Grady Jarrett, the Falcons aim to enhance their roster through free agency and the draft under Morris’s leadership.
Returning to Atlanta is, for Morris, a part of coming home, driven by the desire for redemption after the painful loss in the 2016 season. He expressed a strong aspiration to witness team owner Arthur Blank holding up the championship trophy once again.
