Falcons fire coach Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot - ESPN

The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night after two straight disappointing seasons.

Their exits came hours after Atlanta wrapped up an 8-9 campaign with a 19-17 home win over the New Orleans Saints.

Fontenot had been with the Falcons since 2021. Morris was hired in 2024.

«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,» Falcons owner Arthur Blank said 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.»

The team said searches for both roles will begin immediately.

The Falcons finished this season by winning four straight games. After Sunday's victory, several players, including Drake London, Jessie Bates III and Bijan Robinson, expressed hope that Morris would be back for a third season as well as for a Fontenot return.

«I want Rah back with all my heart,» London said.

But Atlanta did not have a winning record once in Fontenot's five-year tenure, and the Falcons were 16-18 under Morris over two campaigns. Overall, the Falcons have not been to the playoffs since 2017, the second-longest drought in the NFL. Atlanta has not had a winning record for eight seasons.

Fontenot, 45, came to the Falcons after 17 seasons with the Saints, most recently as New Orleans' assistant general manager and vice president of pro personnel. This was