The Atlanta Falcons are once again staring down a familiar crossroads - one that feels less like a fresh start and more like a rerun. With another losing season nearly in the books, the franchise finds itself in a now-too-familiar position: evaluating whether to hit the reset button on both the head coach and general manager. And if recent history is any indication, the answers won’t come easy - or necessarily lead anywhere new.
Raheem Morris, in his first season back as head coach, has struggled to establish a clear identity or consistent success. Meanwhile, general manager Terry Fontenot is looking at a fifth straight losing campaign since taking over personnel duties.
That’s a tough stat to ignore in a league built for parity - a league where worst-to-first turnarounds aren’t just possible, they’re expected. Yet the Falcons have remained stuck in neutral, spinning their wheels while other teams pass them by.
But here’s the thing: even if Morris and Fontenot are both shown the door at season’s end, that doesn’t guarantee anything changes. Because the deeper issue in Atlanta isn’t just on the sidelines or in the front office - it’s in the boardroom.
Owner Arthur Blank, team president Rich McKay, and the rest of the Falcons' leadership inner circle have long operated under the banner of “collaboration.” It’s a nice word.
It sounds progressive. But when collaboration becomes a shield for avoiding accountability, it can also be a recipe for inertia.
And that’s exactly what’s played out in Flowery Branch in recent years. The same voices keep making the same decisions - and the results speak for themselves.
Now comes the latest twist: a report from Josina Anderson that the Falcons are among several teams still holding interest in Bill Belichick as a potential head coaching candidate. According to Anderson, two teams have already expressed exploratory interest in speaking with the six-time Super Bowl champion, and Belichick still has supporters within the Falcons' upper ranks. That group reportedly includes Arthur Blank himself, who has previously been linked to Belichick during past coaching searches.
It’s no secret that Blank was intrigued by the idea of bringing Belichick to Atlanta in the past. But internal resistance - particularly from Fontenot and McKay - helped steer the franchise away from that path.
The concern? Belichick's reputation for demanding full control of football operations, which could threaten the job security of the existing power structure.
Ultimately, the Falcons opted for a different direction. Whether that decision was right or wrong is still up for debate, but the results haven’t exactly silenced the doubters.
Of course, the idea of circling back to Belichick now comes with plenty of baggage. His short-lived stint at North Carolina - yes, that actually happened - didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
The Tar Heels went 4-8 under Belichick in his first season, including a 2-6 mark in the ACC. Off the field, the situation was equally puzzling, with headlines dominated by his odd and much-scrutinized relationship with a 24-year-old named Jordan Hutson.
The entire episode felt more like a sideshow than a coaching renaissance.
So the notion that Belichick could be in play for the Falcons might seem far-fetched - even laughable. But then again, this is Atlanta.
A franchise that passed on Raheem Morris five years ago in favor of Arthur Smith, only to fire Smith and bring Morris back. A franchise that has made a habit of doubling back on its own decisions.
So would it really be shocking to see them do it again - this time with Belichick?
The Falcons are at a critical juncture. The fan base is restless.
The roster has talent, but no clear direction. And the leadership structure that’s supposed to be guiding the ship continues to inspire more questions than answers.
Whether or not Belichick is the answer is debatable. But one thing is clear: unless the Falcons are willing to take a hard look at who’s actually making the decisions - and how those decisions are being made - no hire, no matter how high-profile, is going to fix what’s broken.
This isn’t just about finding the right coach or GM. It’s about whether the people at the top are ready to break the cycle.