The Atlanta Falcons didn’t wait long to make a change following their 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. On Sunday night, just hours after the team fell to 0-5, both general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn were let go.
On Monday, the Falcons named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris the interim head coach. Morris has head-coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011, and his midseason promotion to defensive coordinator in 2019 seemed to spark the Falcons over their final eight games.
Speaking with the media for the first time as the team’s interim head coach, Morris explained what he wants the identity of the this team to be going forward. Watch below, as shared by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.
Raheem Morris on his focus going into this week. pic.twitter.com/NkchWB1c9v
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) October 13, 2020
Raheem Morris on what his identity will be with this team as oppose to what is has been. pic.twitter.com/DIN8M67eNT
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) October 13, 2020
Morris also discussed the team’s decision to fire special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, saying he thought a new voice would bring more energy to the team, per Jason Butt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Raheem Morris said the decision to fire Ben Kotwica was to bring new energy to special teams. He said he's excited to see what new ST coordinator Bernie Parmalee can bring to the group.
— Jason Butt (@JasonHButt) October 13, 2020
Morris then went into his decision to hand over defensive coordinator duties to linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich, as shared by McClure on Twitter.
Raheem Morris on handing the defensive coordinator role to Jeff Ulbrich after taking over as interim head coach. pic.twitter.com/xocn176uu6
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) October 13, 2020
Atlanta will hit the road to take on the Minnesota Vikings (1-3) in Week 6, as the team looks for its first win of the 2020 season.
