Falcons to Hire Rams DC Raheem Morris as Next Head Coach, per Report

It appears Atlanta will be led by a familiar face in 2024.

It appears the Atlanta Falcons are hiring a familiar face to replace fired coach Arthur Smith.

The Falcons plan to name Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris their next head coach, according to a Thursday afternoon report from Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Morris, 47, previously worked for Atlanta from 2015-20. He spent time as an assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, wide receivers coach, defensive coordinator and interim head coach.

This will be the Hofstra product's third head coaching stint, following three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11 and his interim stint in 2020. Morris has a lifetime record of 21-38 with one winning record to his name—a 10-6 season in 2010.

Falcons plan to hire Rams’ defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their head coach, per sources. pic.twitter.com/qlz3PbgEtJ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 25, 2024

Morris spent 2021-23 as the Rams' defensive coordinator, winning Super Bowl LVI with Los Angeles in Feb. 2022.

His hiring ends one of the league's most closely watched coaching searches. Legendary former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and then-Michigan, now-Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh were both connected to the Falcons' opening at one time or another.