The Falcons' exhaustive head coaching search appears to be nearing an end.
Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will fill Atlanta's vacancy, ending a process that included 15 candidates, according to multiple reports.
One of them was former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who interviewed twice and was considered an early favorite to win the job.
Atlanta has only the Seahawks and Commanders spots remaining after the Panthers acquired Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales earlier Thursday, and it is known that he has not spoken with any other team. This is the only team that has.
While Morris will get a chance to lead the team again, Belichick remains mysteriously unemployed after parting ways with the Patriots after 24 seasons, with the 71-year-old Belichick looking to chase Don Shula's record of 328 career wins. , he could miss the 2024 season.
Belichick boasts 302 wins, but last season his New England team slumped to a career-low 4-13.
The Falcons will also interview former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Former University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. Pierce; Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Ravens assistant Anthony Weaver. Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald. Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes.
Morris, 47, served as the Falcons' interim head coach in 2020 and led one of the NFL's best defenses in Los Angeles with a 4-7-0 record before joining the Rams.
He was head coach from 2009 to 2011, leading the Buccaneers to a 17-31-0 record in three seasons.
He started as an assistant coach at Hofstra, played safety from 1994 to 1997, and also spent time with the Bucs, Kansas State and Redskins, in addition to stints in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
The Falcons will become the sixth team to hire a new coach this offseason.
In addition to Canales, Harbaugh made the jump to the NFL with the Chargers, and the Patriots replaced Belichick with former linebackers coach Jerod Mayo.
The Titans hired Callahan and the Raiders removed the interim tag from Antonio Pierce. Pierce took over midway through the season when Josh McDaniels (also a former Belichick manager) was fired after the team started 3-5.
