*Raheem Morris is making history as the new, full-time head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Morris, a Black man, served as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator over the past three seasons. In 2009-2011, he was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and interim coach of the Falcons in 2020. As a head coach, Morris has a 24-38 record, Los Angeles Times reports.
Morris, 47, is the third Black coach hired this off-season.
Jemele Hill hit up X/Twiiter on Thursday to react to Morris’s hiring, noting that last year, DeMeco Ryans was the only African-American coach hired out of five openings.
Last NFL offseason, DeMeco Ryans was the only Black coach hired out of 5 openings. This offseason, 3 Black coaches have been hired as head coaches already.
It’s giving progress? https://t.co/LH56T8uite
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 25, 2024
“Last NFL offseason, DeMeco Ryans was the only Black coach hired out of 5 openings. This offseason, 3 Black coaches have been hired as head coaches already. It’s giving progress?” Hill wrote.
Morris was hired the same day the Carolina Panthers hired Mexican-American Dave Canales as their new head coach.
“With 26 years of experience in the NFL, including the last three in an outstanding organization that has won our league’s championship in that time, Raheem emerged from a field of excellent candidates and is the right leader to take our team into the future,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement.
“His time in LA has given him an enhanced perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning, working with an outstanding offensive staff and many other things that has helped him develop into an even more prepared coach in all aspects of the game,” Black continued.
“I am overjoyed for the opportunity for my family and I to return to Atlanta as the Falcons head coach,” Morris said in a statement.
“We know from firsthand experience what a first-class organization Atlanta is and what this team means to its city and its fans. I am incredibly appreciative of Arthur Blank for his leadership and for this entire organization for putting its trust in me to help lead this team,” he continued.
“I can’t thank the Rams organization enough for the experience and opportunity with the team. From the Kroenke family, Kevin Demoff, Les Snead, Sean McVay and the entire staff, the Rams are a first-class organization all around. We loved our time in L.A., loved the fans and know the Rams continue to have a very bright future,” Morris said.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press apologized for running a photo of Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, a Black man, in a story about the Atlanta Falcons hiring Morris as their next head coach.
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