Morris tapped as new Falcons coach
Three years ago, the Atlanta Falcons passed on a chance to make Raheem Morris their head coach.
They didn’t let him get away this time — even after an exhaustive search that included six- time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick.
The Falcons hired the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator on Thursday, bringing back a familiar name who served as Atlanta’s interim coach for the final 11 games of the 2020 season after Dan Quinn was fired.
The 47-year- old Morris was hired by the Falcons after 14 candidates were interviewed, with Belichick the most notable among them. Earlier Thursday, the team conducted a second interview with Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
In the end, the Falcons decided to go with an experienced coach who has been in the league all but one season going back to 2002, including a threeyear stint as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He previously worked in Atlanta from 2015-2020.
Morris becomes the first non- interim Black coach in Falcons history and joins general manager Terry Fontenot, who also is Black, in leading a franchise that hasn’t had a winning season since 2017.
The hiring ensures there will be at least nine minority head coaches to start the 2024 season, the most ever.
PANTHERS PICK CANALES AS NEXT HEAD COACH>>
The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales to become their new head coach Thursday in hopes that he can end a six-year playoff drought. The Panthers are 31- 68 since 2018, tied with the New York Jets for the worst record in the league during that span.
Canales becomes the seventh head coach to lead the Panthers since owner David Tepper took over in 2018.
He inherits a team that went 2-15 last season and does not have a first-round draft pick in 2024. The 42-year- old Canales has spent only one season as an NFL coordinator.
PATRIOTS WR CHARGED IN ILLEGAL GAMING SCHEME>>
Authorities say New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been arrested on charges related to illegal online gambling while he was under age and playing at LSU.
Boutte is accused of creating an online betting account under a fake name and then placing more than 8,900 illegal bets. State police said six were wagers on LSU football, including two bets on a game he played in.
BENGALS PROMOTE QBS COACH TO OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR>>
The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t need to search far and wide to find their next offensive coordinator. The franchise simply promoted quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher. Pitcher was formally handed the job one day after Brian Callahan left to take the head coaching gig with the Tennessee Titans.
The 37-year- old Pitcher just finished his eighth season on Cincy’s coaching staff. He spent the past four seasons as Joe Burrow’s position coach after previously serving as assistant QBS coach (2019) and offensive assistant (201618). He calls the promotion “the ideal scenario” because he’s “had the luxury of growing up here.”
BROWNS INTERVIEW BRIAN JOHNSON, SET TO MEET WITH CHARGERS’ MOORE>>
A person familiar with the team’s plans tells The Associated Press that the Cleveland Browns have interviewed Philadelphia offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, who was fired by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni on Tuesday.
The team also received permission to meet with Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
Coach Kevin Stefanski fired Alex Van Pelt last week. If Moore is hired, it’s possible Stefanski could give up play-calling, which he has done since coming to Cleveland in 2000.