Falcons Decided on Raheem Morris Amid Concerns Bill Belichick Was a ‘Short-Term’ Play, per Report
The Atlanta Falcons were the only team to publicly interview Bill Belichick, but the team ended up going with Raheem Morris as their new head coach on Thursday.
So, how close were the Falcons to choosing Belichick? Owner Arthur Blank reportedly went into the hiring process with his sights set on the former Patriots coach. But, the Falcons were ultimately worried about how much control Belichick would have in comparison to Blank and CEO Rich McKay, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported.
“The organizational structure in Atlanta involves Blank and CEO Rich McKay, and a lot of the discussions with Belichick centered on the idea of what McKay’s role would be if Belichick came to coach the team—and how much power and control the various parties would have in the end,” Graziano wrote.
Additionally, Graziano noted that the Falcons wanted a coach who would be there more long-term. Hiring Belichick would seem more like a “short-term play” in that sense, per Graziano. He also noted “there were some in the Falcons’ building who were concerned about overhauling things extensively only to potentially have to do so again in a few years.”
Ultimately, the Falcons also held high regards for Morris, the now former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator.
Belichick’s future in coaching this upcoming season is still unknown, but right now it’s seeming that the legendary coach might not return to the sideline in 2024.
