Tag: Falcons

Jun 3, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; An Atlanta Falcons logo in the media room before the start of Falcons OTA at the Falcons Training facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Falcons promote T.J. Yates to passing game coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons promoted T.J. Yates to the role of passing game coordinator and D.J. Williams to quarterbacks coach on Thursday.

Yates, a former NFL quarterback, served as the team’s primary position coach and Williams as an offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach in the 2024 season.

Yates has been with the Falcons’ coaching staff since 2021 when he was hired as a passing game specialist. He was promoted to receivers coach in 2022.

A fifth-round pick of Houston in 2011, Yates threw for 2,057 yards and 10 touchdowns in 22 career games (10 starts) with the Texans, Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

Yates also spent two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Texans and was promoted to assistant QBs coach in 2020.

Williams spent his previous five seasons (2019-23) as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) gets sacked by C.J. Brewer (95)in the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins claims ankle, arm injuries impacted 2024

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Before his 37th birthday in August, Kirk Cousins said his greatest wish is full health.

“I’m no good to the Falcons, I’m no good to a team if I’m not feeling really good,” Cousins told NFL Network on Tuesday. “That’s really where my focus has been through January and February now that the season has wound down, really taking all the time I can to get my body feeling really good.”

In his return from a torn Achilles and debut season with the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins said arm injuries were a detriment and led to him being benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. in December.

What’s next for Cousins is unclear, even after Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said the team was comfortable absorbing his $40 million cap number in 2025.

Three years remain on the four-year, $180 million deal Cousins signed with Atlanta in March 2024. After he tossed one touchdown and nine interceptions in a five-game spiral that knocked Atlanta out of playoff position, Cousins went to the bench. He said Tuesday recovery from the Achilles went well.

“I think the Achilles healed well. I think there was a little bit of just trying to get my right ankle back around the Achilles, but the Achilles itself healed really well,” Cousins said on “Good Morning Football: Overtime.”

“Even then, we were 6-3, was playing well, doing a lot of good things, even if the right ankle wasn’t perfect. Nobody’s perfect in this league. We’re never feeling 100 percent. So it didn’t really affect me too much, but then against the Saints (in Week 10), I got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow. From there, kind of dealing with that, it was something I was working through. Just never could get it really to where I wanted it. Now that the season’s over, you have the time and the energy to say, OK, let’s get the right ankle back, let’s get the shoulder back, let’s get the elbow back.

“And if we can do that, feel like I got a new life ahead of me in pro football.”

A move with a post-June 1 designation, or a trade before training camp, would make a reset more feasible for both sides. The Falcons would save $12.5 million, but given his age and rapid regression, his trade market is expected to be cool to frigid.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg gestures on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Falcons add Mike Rutenberg, Nate Ollie to coaching staff

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The Atlanta Falcons added to their coaching staff on Friday, naming Mike Rutenberg as defensive pass game coordinator and Nate Ollie as defensive line coach.

The moves come six days after former New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich was named the Falcons’ new defensive coordinator.

Rutenberg, 43, spent the past four seasons as the Jets’ linebackers coach after serving one year as the San Francisco 49ers’ passing game specialist in 2020.

Ollie, 33, served as the assistant defensive line coach for the Houston Texans this season. He also worked with Ulbrich during his time as an assistant defensive line coach for the Jets in 2021.

The Falcons ranked 23rd in the league in both points allowed and total yards and 31st in sacks this season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich during pregame warmups for their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Falcons tab Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator

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Jeff Ulbrich is returning to the Atlanta Falcons as defensive coordinator, the team announced Saturday night.

Ulbrich was the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator over the past four seasons and served as interim head coach for the final 12 games of the 2024 season. The Jets went 3-9 during that span. He also continued serving as defensive coordinator.

Ulbrich, 47, has a lot of familiarity with the Falcons as he formerly spent six seasons (2015-20) with the franchise. He coached linebackers throughout his tenure but also was assistant head coach and interim defensive coordinator for part of the 2020 season after Dan Quinn was dismissed.

Current Falcons head coach Raheem Morris replaced Quinn on an interim basis. Morris also was on the staff with Ulbrich for the same six seasons.

Morris went 8-9 in 2024 in his first season as head coach. Jimmy Lake was the defensive coordinator, but he was fired after one season.

Ulbrich played 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-09 before moving into coaching.

Earlier Saturday, the Falcons completed a virtual interview with former Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus but later decided to hire Ulbrich.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head Coach Matt Eberflus during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Falcons interview Matt Eberflus for DC position

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The Atlanta Falcons completed a virtual interview with Matt Eberflus for their defensive coordinator position, the team announced Saturday.

Eberflus, 54, most recently served as head coach of the Chicago Bears for two-plus seasons. He was fired the day after a Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions, finishing his tenure with a 14-32 record.

The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake last weekend after one season with the team. Atlanta dropped its final two games to miss the playoffs, giving up a combined 74 points in back-to-back overtime defeats against the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers.

Before coaching the Bears, Eberflus was the defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-21. He was an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys from 2011-17 and the linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2009-10.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) on the field before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Lone Star Cheetah? Tyreek Hill favored to land with Cowboys

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Tyreek Hill said he’s “out” in the immediate aftermath of Miami’s season-ending loss to the New York Jets on Sunday — a defeat that saw the Dolphins fall to 8-9 and apparently included Hill removing himself from the game.

Coach Mike McDaniel is still assessing the fallout after learning on Monday that he will return for a fourth season. Whether that includes Hill remains to be seen, as McDaniel declined to speculate on the situation following the game.

“There’s a lot of things that I need to reassess about my career,” Hill told reporters. “I just gotta do what’s best for me and my family, whether that’s here or wherever the case may be. I’m finna open that door for myself. … I’m out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day, I gotta do what’s best for my career. I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”

If Hill’s desire to leave South Florida proves to be more than an emotional reaction to the end of a disappointing season, there figures to be a lengthy line of suitors for the “Cheetah.”

One sportsbook has already installed the Dallas Cowboys as the +300 favorite to land Hill should the Dolphins part with him. Dolphins pass rusher Micah Parsons took to X to “recruit” Hill, posting on Monday, “@cheetah we can be the fastest duo in the league!!! we also don’t have state income taxes!”

Owner Jerry Jones has never been shy about adding a high-profile veteran to the Cowboys’ mix, and Hill would make for a massive upgrade opposite CeeDee Lamb in Dallas’ offense.

The second-shortest odds to land Hill belong to the Raiders, who enter the offseason with significant questions at the quarterback position. Third is Atlanta, which may be interested in adding the Georgia native to pair with Drake London.

TYREEK HILL NEXT TEAM ODDS*
Dallas Cowboys (+300)
Las Vegas Raiders (+400)
Atlanta Falcons (+500)
Buffalo Bills (+600)
New England Patriots (+800)
Jacksonville Jaguars (+1000)
Denver Broncos (+1200)
Washington (+1200)
Kansas City Chiefs (+1600)
Cleveland Browns (+1800)
Pittsburgh Steelers (+1800)
Indianapolis Colts (+2200)
New Orleans Saints (+2500)
New York Giants (+2500)
Carolina Panthers (+2800)
Arizona Cardinals (+3300)
New York Jets (+3300)
Chicago Bears (+3800)
Green Bay Packers (+4000)
Seattle Seahawks (+4000)
Tennessee Titans (+4000)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4500)
Houston Texans (+5000)
Los Angeles Chargers (+5000)
Los Angeles Rams (+5000)
Baltimore Ravens (+6600)
San Francisco 49ers (+6600)
Cincinnati Bengals (+7500)
Detroit Lions (+7500)
Minnesota Vikings (+7500)
Philadelphia Eagles (+7500)
*Odds provided by SportsBetting.ag for entertainment purposes only.

Hill, who will turn 31 in March, caught 81 passes for 959 yards in 17 games this season — marking his lowest production in a full season since his rookie year with Kansas City in 2016. The drop came following a pair of 1,700-yard seasons to begin his tenure in Miami and with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa limited to 11 games due to concussion and hip injuries.

The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game since the 2000 season, the longest active drought of any NFL club.

Before the 2024 season, Hill signed a three-year, $90 million extension through the 2026 season that included a $7 million signing bonus and $59 million in guaranteed money. He is due to count $28.7 million against the 2025 cap and $51.9 million in the final year of the deal in 2026.

Shortly after his comments on Sunday, Hill took to X to thank Dolphins fans for their support, writing “Love fin nation blessing yall opened doors for the Hill family forever, nothing but respect and love”

McDaniel declined to speculate how serious of a threat the eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver might be posing in forcing his way out of the Dolphins.

“I’m not going to put too much weight on second-hand post-game disappointment statements,” McDaniel told reporters. “We will see how (the) next couple days progress in convos with him and I.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reacts on the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

After Falcons’ collapse, Raheem Morris says ‘2025 starts today’

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It would have been hard to believe on Nov. 3 that the Atlanta Falcons were going to be watching the NFL playoffs from home for a seventh straight year, but that’s the franchise’s reality.

After beating the Dallas Cowboys 27-21, Atlanta was 6-3 and had a two-game lead and a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. But the Falcons dropped six of eight games down the stretch while benching their $180 million quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in the process.

Despite the calls made by many Falcons fans and radio personalities to dump Raheem Morris, the first-year coach survived “Black Monday” and will live to see another season in Atlanta.

That doesn’t mean this year was any less of a letdown for Morris and the team.

“Obviously I’m disappointed for our organization, our fanbase, for all of us,” Morris said in his press conference on Monday. “But the work has to start today. 2025 starts today and the process has already begun.”

Cousins, who was benched in December after signing with Atlanta in the offseason, is expected to be cut before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17.

In his place, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 775 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions over the final three weeks of the season. Penix, along with running back Bijan Robinson (1,456 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns in 2024) and wide receiver Drake London (100 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine scores) will give Falcons fans reason to be hopeful heading into 2025 after an 8-9 campaign.

“Michael Penix in those last three games was definitely a positive,” Morris added. “Pairing him with Drake London and Bijan Robinson, watching that combo get a chance to start fresh and grow will be something you really lean on.

“This is 100 percent an awful day. You hate it. But when you look at those guys on the offensive side of the ball, it does create a certain level of excitement for you. This is certainly a disappointing day because you want those guys to get a chance to showcase what they can do at a high level. We’ll get there. It’s our job to get there.”

Defensively, Atlanta allowed 24.9 points per game, ranking 23rd in the league and representing the franchise’s worst scoring defense since 2021 (27.0 ppg).

Morris didn’t give a definitive answer on whether first-year defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake would return next season.

“We’ve got to evaluate all of our coaches,” Morris said. “We’ve got to evaluate everything we do within our entire program. … There will never be anything that’s the same in the National Football League, whether it’s players or coaches. That’s just how it is.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) walks off the field after a victory over the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons WR Darnell Mooney inactive vs. Panthers

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney is inactive for Sunday’s season finale against the visiting Carolina Panthers.

Mooney was added to the Falcons’ injury report on Thursday with an ailing shoulder and was listed as questionable on Friday.

Atlanta (8-8) needs a win over Carolina (4-12) on Sunday and a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) to the visiting New Orleans Saints (5-11) to win the NFC South.

Mooney, 27, has 64 catches for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in 16 games (all starts) this season.

He has 277 receptions for 3,585 yards and 16 touchdowns in 76 career games (65 starts) with the Chicago Bears (2020-23) and Falcons.

In addition to Mooney, the Falcons listed the following players as inactive: cornerback Kevin King, linebacker JD Bertrand, defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus, and offensive linemen Elijah Wilkinson and Brandon Parker.

As for the Panthers, cornerback Jaycee Horn, wide receivers Velus Jones and Deven Thompkins, quarterback Jack Plummer, safety Lonnie Johnson Jr., linebacker Josey Jewell and guard Robert Hunt are listed as inactive.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) celebrates after a victory over the New York Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

With shot at NFC South title, Falcons set for Panthers

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Sunday’s regular-season finale in Atlanta between the Falcons and Carolina Panthers will be do-or-die for the home team.

Had Atlanta (8-8) held on to defeat the Washington Commanders last Sunday, the Falcons could have clinched their first NFC South crown since 2016 with a victory over Carolina (4-12). Instead, Atlanta will need a win on Sunday paired with a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) to the New Orleans Saints (5-11).

Before the season, the Falcons wouldn’t have planned to rely on rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to lead them to the postseason. However, with the benching of struggling veteran Kirk Cousins, that’s exactly how the final three weeks of the season have unfolded.

In two games since Penix was thrust into the starting role, the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has completed 37 of 62 passes for 425 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Penix’s first-career touchdown pass came with 1:19 remaining in last week’s 30-24 overtime loss at Washington, when he fired a perfect pass through traffic to tight end Kyle Pitts.

Although Atlanta’s quarterback play hasn’t gone according to plan, Penix playing important January football looks to serve him well going forward.

“We wanted him to be able to go through the process and learn behind Kirk,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said of Penix. “He did that for a long stretch and now his time has come. He’s gone out there, executing and doing a really good job for us. The whole idea with him is just to keep getting better each week. His job is to go out and win football games. He won one of them and gave us a chance in the other. Now we’re going to try and get our ninth win and finish the season strong.”

Atlanta can’t afford to scoreboard watch against the Panthers, who recorded a 36-30 overtime victory to eliminate the Arizona Cardinals from playoff contention in Week 16. Last time out, Carolina fell 48-14 at Tampa Bay.

In a battle between young quarterbacks, Bryce Young has thrown for four touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past two weeks for the Panthers. The 23-year-old is seeing Atlanta’s defense for the first time, as he was playing behind Andy Dalton in the Panthers’ 38-20 home loss to Atlanta on Oct. 13.

“I have a lot of respect for (Atlanta) as a team and a defensive unit,” Young said. “They have a lot of good players; they play well together. We’ve got to do everything we can to put ourselves in a position to execute. We know it’s going to take everything to try and have success.”

In 13 games, Young has thrown for 2,152 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He’s also added four scores on the ground.

In an extensive injury report, Carolina linebackers Amare Barno (shoulder) and Josey Jewell (concussion), defensive backs Jaycee Horn (hip), Lonnie Johnson (shoulder/neck) and Nick Scott (illness), defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (neck) and offensive lineman Robert Hunt (knee) all were sidelined for Wednesday’s practice.

For Atlanta, cornerback Kevin King (concussion) didn’t practice on Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris leaves the field after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raheem Morris on Falcons’ timeout debacle: Not as simple as it seems

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The biggest game for the Atlanta Falcons since their last playoff appearance in 2017 had it all.

A rookie quarterback making his first career road start in Michael Penix Jr. A 10-point Atlanta halftime lead. A late rally to force overtime. Eventually, it added up to a costly 30-24 road loss to the Washington Commanders on “Sunday Night Football.”

After Penix tied the game with a fourth-and-goal strike to Kyle Pitts, Atlanta (8-8) got the ball back with 40 seconds left with a chance to gain control of the NFC South.

Penix completed a 25-yard pass to Darnell Mooney on first down with 33 seconds left to advance Atlanta to Washington’s 44-yard line. The Falcons then wasted 16 seconds of clock, while head coach Raheem Morris still held two timeouts, before snapping the ball again.

Eventually, Riley Patterson missed a 56-yard field goal as regulation expired, before the Falcons fell in overtime.

The question for Morris on Monday was, “Why not use a timeout to save time on that final drive?”

“Would I like that back? Obviously, because it didn’t work,” Morris said in his press conference on Monday.

“But in hindsight, if we can just hit another route and we get a chance to have the timeouts to use, to utilize the whole field on the next throw, then we have a chance to get in better position and make it an easier field goal to end it there in regulation. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way for me. … As simple as you make it seem, it’s not.”

Penix completed 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards, a touchdown and an interception but was outdueled by Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels (227 passing yards, 127 rushing yards, three TDs, one pick).

Ultimately, Atlanta’s chances of ending its seven-year playoff drought took a major hit.

If the Falcons had held serve on Sunday, they would have just needed to beat the Carolina Panthers at home in Week 18 to clinch the division. Now, Atlanta must win and have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6) lose at home against the New Orleans Saints — a game in which Tampa Bay has opened as a two-touchdown favorite.

For Morris and company, everything counts on the rival Saints to pull off a monumental upset.

“At 1 o’clock on Sunday, I don’t think you can (worry about that game),” Morris said of the Tampa Bay-New Orleans matchup. “I think you can only handle what you can handle, control what you can control. So, I think as a professional and what I owe to Arthur Blank and this organization and fan base is to go out there and be completely locked into what we’re doing, trying to win versus the Carolina Panthers.”

–Field Level Media