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The Atlanta Falcons made a hard turn with their coaching search.
The Falcons, despite interviewing Bill Belichick twice, hired Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to fill their head coaching vacancy.
The Falcons made the deal official later Thursday.
"This is a historic day for the Atlanta Falcons – after a comprehensive search we are thrilled to welcome Raheem Morris back to Atlanta as the team’s new head coach," team owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. "With 26 years of experience in the NFL, including the last three in an outstanding organization that has won our league’s championship in that time,
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris of the Los Angeles Rams answers questions from the media after mini camp June 8, 2022, at the team's facility at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
"Raheem emerged from a field of excellent candidates and is the right leader to take our team into the future. His time in LA has given him an enhanced perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning, working with an outstanding offensive staff and many other things that has helped him develop into an even more prepared coach in all aspects of the game. I believe his leadership skills have grown and his understanding of what it takes to have a highly collaborative one-team culture are now at a much higher level.
Morris has been in Southern California since the 2021 season, winning the Super Bowl in his first season there. He returns to Atlanta after serving multiple roles from 2015 to 2020.
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Many thought the Falcons would bring in Belichick, as they seem to fit the mold of what Belichick reportedly wants — an up-and-coming team. They have had quarterback troubles, but it is not out of the question they could trade with the Chicago Bears for either the first pick (likely Caleb Williams) or their current quarterback, Justin Fields.
It is quite a pivot for Atlanta.
ESPN reported Belichick wasn't a shoo-in for the Falcons job earlier Thursday.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before a game against the Atlanta Falcons. (Simon Bruty /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
"They interviewed him for a second time last Friday in person," Adam Schefter said on ESPN's "Get Up" Thursday. "Since then, the Falcons have paraded through a series of candidates for second interviews and other interviews and scheduled more talks with other candidates.
"That doesn’t sound like a team that’s ready to make a move on Bill Belichick. … If it’s wide open after you’ve met with Bill Belichick twice, that certainly tells you that he’s not the favorite for the job."
Now, it's apparent Atlanta had another guy in mind.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris on the sidelines during a 34-14 win over the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium Sept. 12, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Harry How/Getty Images)
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It would be Morris' second head coaching gig in the NFL. He was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011.
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