DeAngelo Hall is still standing up for Raheem Morris, even after the Atlanta Falcons decided to move on.
Hall, speaking in an interview with Hard Rock Bet, said he was “disappointed” that Morris didn’t get another year after Atlanta finished the season with four straight wins. The former Falcons defensive back made it clear he still believes Morris deserved more time, even though the team ended up 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season.
“Look, I have to start by saying I was a little bit disappointed that my man Raheem Morris didn’t get another year after that great finish to the season,” Hall said. “While I’m a huge Raheem Morris fan, I have to respect Kevin Stefanski and his resume. He did great in Cleveland, which is a tough job, and he’s a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.”
Hall’s stance puts him in a smaller camp of people who still believe in Morris after the way Atlanta finished. He wanted the Falcons to give the 49-year-old another shot, but he also acknowledged why Stefanski’s résumé carries real weight.
That’s where the divide comes in. Around the league, Morris has long been viewed as someone players and coaches like being around, the kind of “player’s coach” people gravitate toward. Falcons fans, though, were far less forgiving after a season packed with coaching mistakes and blown opportunities.
Atlanta’s record tells part of the story, but the close losses tell the rest. The Falcons were an eight-win team that could have finished anywhere from 11 to 13 wins if a few games had tilted the other way. Instead, too many of the problems were self-inflicted, and that became the biggest argument for making a change.
Hall’s comments reflect that split between how Morris is seen inside NFL circles and how he was viewed by the fan base. But after the way last season played out, the Falcons believed the reset was necessary, and Kevin Stefanski now takes over with the job of pushing the team forward.
In Other News...
Falcons May Already Be Seeing A Quarterback Gamble Pay Off
Tua Tagovailoas fresh start in Atlanta already has a different feel than the uneasy ending he left behind in Miami. The Dolphins moved on from him earlier this offseason for financial reasons despite his contract and injury history, and the Falcons brought him in on a prove-it deal with the hope that a change of scenery could get him back on track. So far, minicamp has offered reason for optimism, and it has at least put a real spotlight on what the Falcons might have stumbled into with the veteran quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. remains in the mix as he rehabs a torn ACL and works toward being cleared for full contact by training camp, but Tagovailoas early returns have only sharpened the conversation around Atlantas quarterback room. There is also a football fit to consider, with the Falcons built around timing and accuracy and a supporting cast that should give any passer help, while Miami is trying to move forward with Malik Willis and a less convincing setup around him. For now, the gamble looks like it could be paying off quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Is Already A Star But Falcons Fans See One Debate
Bijan Robinson has already done enough in three NFL seasons to look like one of the leagues premier running backs, and Falcons fans have plenty to appreciate as he heads into Year 4. His production has climbed in both the run and pass game, he earned a Pro Bowl nod in his second season and he led the league in scrimmage yards last year, giving Atlanta a centerpiece who can shape an offense in multiple ways.
Still, the conversation around Robinson is not just about how dynamic he is, but how complete he can become. Ball security and touchdown production have become part of the debate as he prepares for a season with a new coaching staff, and with a major extension looming, the margin for those details only gets smaller. For a player already viewed as a star, the next step may be less about proving his talent and more about answering the one question fans keep circling. [Read more 🡒]