Falcons to hire ‘president of football’ — perhaps Matt Ryan? — to oversee GM, head coach

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons are shaking things up, but for real this time. That, at least, was the message coming from the team during a dramatic 12 hours that began with Sunday night’s firing of head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot and was capped by a detailed letter from owner Arthur Blank promising change.

“I know we have fallen short of the standard you expect and we as an organization have for ourselves. That responsibility rests with me,” Blank wrote. “When results do not match expectations over time, as the owner, accountability cannot be shared or softened. I believe this team should be competing at a higher level than it has, and I share your deep frustration.”

In response to that frustration, Blank is scrapping the collaborative approach that the team has proudly trumpeted in its decision-making over the last decade and will hire a president of football who will oversee the new head coach and general manager and make the final decision on all football matters. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the leading candidate for that position, but the league must comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires two interviews with minority candidates before making a hire, league sources told The Athletic.

The president of football will be the first hire and will be “fully involved” in the selection of the new coach and general manager, according to Blank. The new position, along with Greg Beadles’ promotion from team president to president and CEO, seems to officially push out longtime executive Rich McKay.

McKay, who has been with Blank since 2003 when he was hired as general manager, will now “give full focus” to his CEO duties at Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment. Blank characterized the move as “succession planning that began over five years ago maturing,” but Atlanta fans who have come to blame all of the organization’s failures on McKay’s poorly explained involvement over the years will be waiting to see if McKay is actually out.

“I understand trust is built through action, not words,” Blank wrote to fans. “Honesty, effort and accountability must be reflected in the way this organization operates and performs. Moving forward, every decision will be made with one clear objective — building a team capable of sustained success and competing for championships. I am confident that our new football structure and leadership will have us contending again soon. We are laser-focused on filling these key roles and others with outstanding talent and empowering them correctly ahead of this critical offseason.”

Blank, who has owned the team since 2002, will address the media during a Thursday news conference.

All of the news fell mostly with an echo in a nearly empty Falcons locker room Monday morning. Only a handful of Atlanta players were still around when the media was allowed in for the annual end-of-season availability.

“I was surprised (by the firings) after ending the season on the four-game win streak and righting a couple wrongs that everybody was talking about,” linebacker Josh Woods said. “I was hoping that it didn’t go that way. Obviously, that’s the nature of the business we are in. We’re here to win, and we haven’t been, so I understand. But (I’m) definitely a little bit disappointed by it.”

Morris and Fontenot both addressed the players in a Monday morning meeting, Woods said.

“The meeting was hard for a lot of guys,” long snapper Liam McCullough said. Morris and Fontenot “are great people. They have a lot of respect from the guys on this team. Tears were shed: players, coaches. You wish them the best. They are going to continue to do great things.”

Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford learned the news while watching Sunday night’s Baltimore-Pittsburgh game at home, he said. He is hopeful he can remain in Atlanta under the new head coach. Woods also expressed a desire to see defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich remain with the Falcons next season.

“He is a heck of a coach, created a heck of a culture,” Woods said.

Morris’ firing, or at least the timing of it, came as a surprise to him. He said immediately after Sunday’s 19-17 win over the Saints that he hadn’t had any conversations with Blank about his future.

“My expectation is always to be back,” Morris said. “I’ll coach this football team as long as he allows me.”

Just hours later, he and Fontenot were fired after meeting with Blank. Morris was 8-9 in both of his full seasons as head coach in Atlanta. Counting a three-year stint in Tampa Bay and 11 games as the Falcons’ interim coach in 2020, Morris is 37-56 as a head coach.

Still, he had the support of several key players following the season.

“Me and Raheem, that’s my dude, but that’s Arthur Blank’s decision,” running back Bijan Robinson said before the firing. “I am going to support Raheem no matter what. I love him as a big brother, father figure, coach, everything.”

Wide receiver Drake London said Morris “brought back my love for the game.”

The presence of Robinson and London, along with a young defense that finished second in the league in sacks this year (57), will make the Falcons an intriguing option for many head coaching candidates despite the fact that the Falcons haven’t had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2017.

“We just need to get over this hill, and I think the future is very, very bright with the talent we have,” London said. “I love this team. I love the city. I love the fans. I’m going to do everything in my power to go out and win for them and go out and create a winning culture.”