Since his hiring as the 19th head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in January, Raheem Morris has brought a sense of optimism to a franchise searching for its first winning season since 2017.
Morris, along with a bevy of key free-agent signings, will debut Atlanta’s new look on Sunday, when the Falcons host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 of the regular season.
Not a stranger to being “the guy”, Morris went 17-31 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach from 2009-11, and 4-7 as Atlanta’s interim coach in 2020 after Dan Quinn’s firing.
A non-factor in the postseason picture since their last appearance in the 2017 season, the Falcons added offensive weapons in quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud, while also acquiring safety Justin Simmons and linebacker Matthew Judon in August.
The offseason additions have the Falcons in a spot to contend for an up-for-grabs NFC South Division. For Morris, season opener Sunday presents a chance to prove he’s ready to lead a team with lofty expectations.
“I like the ‘anywhere, any place’ kind of mentality our team has,” Morris said Monday. “I just love the mentality and the mindset to get better every single time they’re in the building. That’s what has really stood out with this football team. It’s a veteran-laced group with a bunch of young guys that really care. That’s a credit to our front office and the people that have gone out and picked the players for this team.”
As for Morris’ first game as a head coach since Jan. 3, 2021, the 47-year-old will square off against the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin — a former coworker in Tampa Bay.
Morris was a defensive assistant alongside Tomlin for the Buccaneers from 2002-05.
“(Mike) is the elder statesman in this,” Morris said of the matchup. “He looks at this with a lot of pride and does the same with the guys that he’s developed. I certainly have a lot of respect for him.”
Sunday will also mark the return of Arthur Smith, the Steelers’ offensive coordinator and former Falcons head coach. Smith was fired in January after finishing 21-30 in three seasons with Atlanta.
The Falcons’ .139 winning percentage all-time against Pittsburgh is their lowest versus any team in the NFL. Atlanta is searching for its first win in the series since October 2006.
–Field Level Media