The Atlanta Falcons are sitting at 6-9, and with another win under their belt, the conversation around Raheem Morris’ future is starting to shift. While some fans have been calling for a change at head coach, particularly with a certain six-time Super Bowl champion lurking in the background, it’s far from a done deal that Morris is on his way out. And given team owner Arthur Blank’s track record of patience with his coaches, there’s a real possibility Morris gets another year to continue building.
If Morris is retained, it would put a damper on the hopes of Falcons fans who’ve been dreaming of Bill Belichick prowling the sidelines in Atlanta. Belichick, who was reportedly a finalist for the Falcons' job when Morris was hired, has remained a popular name in NFL coaching circles-even after a rocky season in his latest role at the college level.
That door to the NFL, however, may be closing for now.
On Monday, North Carolina made a splash by hiring former Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino as their new offensive coordinator. That’s a significant move, especially considering Belichick had just dismissed OC Freddie Kitchens after a disappointing 4-8 campaign (2-6 in ACC play) in his first year leading the Tar Heels. Petrino had been mentioned alongside Chip Kelly as a top candidate for the role, and now he’s officially taking over the offense in Chapel Hill.
For Falcons fans, Petrino’s name stirs up some tough memories. Back in 2007, he was brought in to coach a team built around Michael Vick.
But when Vick was arrested in connection with a dogfighting operation, Petrino’s tenure quickly unraveled. He resigned midseason after a 3-10 start, leaving behind a locker room that was reportedly fractured and frustrated by his leadership.
His abrupt exit to take the Arkansas job didn’t sit well in Atlanta-and that chapter ended in scandal, too.
Despite the baggage, Petrino resurfaced as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator this past season. When Sam Pittman was fired, Petrino stepped in as interim head coach, but the Razorbacks went 0-7 under his watch. Still, UNC clearly believes he can bring some firepower to a Tar Heels offense that badly needs a reboot.
As for Belichick, his NFL return is looking less and less likely-at least in the immediate future. Even though his name keeps popping up, there’s no strong indication he was ever a serious contender for the Falcons’ job this time around.
Atlanta’s front office is likely leaning toward a younger, more forward-thinking coach who fits today’s game. And Belichick’s public jabs at the organization after Morris was hired probably didn’t help his case with Blank.
All that said, this could be a moot point if Morris keeps stacking wins. The Falcons aren’t out of the playoff mix just yet, and while the record isn’t eye-popping, the team has shown flashes of resilience. If that momentum carries into the offseason, Morris could very well be back-and the Belichick-to-Atlanta dream may remain just that: a dream.
Meanwhile, Belichick is focused on rebuilding his staff and turning things around at UNC. And with Petrino now in the fold, that project just got a lot more interesting. For now, the NFL will have to wait.