Falcons Coach Raheem Morris Fires Coordinator In Surprise Move
Yesterday at 03:11 PM
In a rather surprising move, the Atlanta Falcons have announced that they're making a chance at defensive coordinator.
According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Falcons are firing defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake after just one year with the team. Lake was brought over from the Los Angeles Rams with head coach Raheem Morris last year.
In his first year with the team, the Falcons defense made some improvements in run defense while regressing in pass defense. Rapoport noted that Morris felt compelled to take a more active role in running the defense as the season went on, signifying that he was losing confidence in Lake.
"The #Falcons have fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. A significant change for Atlanta. Raheem Morris became more heavily involved in the defense as the season went on, a sign that improvement was needed. They'll have a new DC in 2025," Rapoport wrote.
The #Falcons have fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. A significant change for Atlanta.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2025
Raheem Morris became more heavily involved in the defense as the season went on, a sign that improvement was needed. They'll have a new DC in 2025. pic.twitter.com/hOvynTcqXF
The Falcons defense finished 23rd in points and yards allowed in 2024, but gave up at least 30 points on six occasions. The team went 1-5 in those games.
While the timing of the move comes as a surprise given that most teams make big coordinator assistants in the first few days after the end of the regular season, fans on social media aren't exactly crying over the move.
"LETS GO," the very first reply said.
"Wow, he's gone," wrote another.
"This clown should never have had this job in the first place. Good riddance," a third wrote.
There's no shortage of internal and external candidates that the Falcons can hire to replace Lake. Of the six now-former NFL head coaches that have been fired season, more than half of them specialize on the defensive side of the ball (Robert Saleh, Matt Eberflus, Jerod Mayo, Antonio Pierce).
Of course, they could also just promote someone from within. While the defensive coaching staff doesn't have a ton of former defensive coordinators, Morris could just take on the defensive playcalling duties himself while letting one of his trusted assistants grow into the role.
Atlanta came within a win or two of making the playoffs this year. Perhaps a change at defensive coordinator will push them over the top and into the playoffs next year.
Related: Falcons Star Thought Bill Belichick Would Be Atlanta's Head Coach
