Raheem Morris should take a major role in Falcons new look defense

The Falcons have had four defensive coordinators in five seasons, along with a wealth of investment in that side of the ball through free agency, the draft, and trades, yet the unit is still among the worst in football.

The new defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich, could actually be considered the fifth defensive coordinator in as many years because when Raheem Morris was elevated to interim head coach following Dan Quinn’s firing, Ulbrich was named defensive coordinator for the final 11 games of the season. During that span, the Falcons were above average in scoring defense, ranking 14th and allowing 23 points per game.

The hope is that Ulbrich and Morris, reunited in Atlanta, will bring the Falcons defense to a point where, at the very least, it’s not a complete liability. On the surface, they seem capable.

Ulbrich left Atlanta following the 2020 campaign and joined Robert Saleh’s staff in New York. During the stretch with the Jets, he oversaw a defense that was 21st in scoring defense (23.2 ppg allowed), eighth in success rate (59.3%), and fourth in yards per play allowed (5.1).

However, the Jets’ defense had a precipitous drop-off when Saleh was fired. In fact, it was among the league’s worst defenses from Week 6 on, while it was among the NFL’s best prior to Saleh’s departure. Ulbrich guided the Jets to a 3-9 record this season after the team parted ways with Saleh.

If you’re the Falcons, can you really blame the fans’ pessimism? It’s just another safe hire from inside the circle of trust, one where Morris is hiring a friend as much as a coach. After an offseason filled with big talk about winning the NFC South, Raheem Morris fell flat on his face, and the defense was in large part to blame.

The Falcons finished the 2024 season 23rd in scoring defense. They were 31st in sacks, 25th in defensive EPA, and 20th in yards per play allowed. However, there was a glimmer of hope. They were second in the league in sacks after their Week 12 bye (21) when Morris took a larger hand in the defense. Unfortunately, the uptick in sacks didn’t result in better overall defense.

Still, Morris would be wise to have his ear to the ground in defensive meeting rooms, taking a large role in game planning and possibly even play calling. Not because Ulbrich is incapable of coordinating a better defense than Jimmy Lake — that bar is pretty low after all — or that Morris is some defensive guru, but rather because Morris should feel the need to control his own fate. He very well could be firing up the resumé builder next offseason if the Falcons don’t capture a postseason berth.