FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons ' brain trust of head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot each appear poised to return for 2025 after a disappointing 8-9 season. Morris has effectively been confirmed to return, as he spoke with reporters Monday in Flowery Branch, and Fontenot is scheduled to do the same Thursday.

We are just days removed from Black Monday, a day in which many head coaches and general managers were fired, a day Falcons fans have become intimately familiar with over the years.

Head coach Raheem Morris absolutely blasted the Falcons after their season-ending loss to the Panthers in Week 18.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris: “The light at the end of the tunnel for us, despite how bad and poor we played on defense or anywhere is the quarterback. … Michael Penix is certainly outstanding. He certainly one of the guys that’s going to play in this league and absolutely…

“The light at the end of the tunnel for us, despite how bad and poor we played on defense or anywhere is the quarterback,” Morris said. “Michael Penix is certainly outstanding. He certainly one of the guys that's going to play in this league and absolutely dominate for us as long as we allow him.”

The Falcons have brought Jeff Ulbrich back to Atlanta, naming their former assistant as defensive coordinator. Ulbrich, who spent much of last season as the New York Jets’ interim coach, takes over a defense that earned criticism from first-year coach Raheem Morris for the team’s 8-9 finish.

Jeff Ulbrich takes over as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator after the team fired Jimmy Lake following an 8-9 season.

The Atlanta Falcons have hired former assistant Jeff Ulbrich, who spent the past four years with the New York Jets, as defensive coordinator.

On Saturday, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports that the Falcons are expected to hire Jeff Ulbrich as their new defensive coordinator. Atlanta parted ways with defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake at the conclusion of this season.

In January 2025, former New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator after working in that same role in an interim capacity with Morris after Quinn’s firing.

The Falcons brought Jeff Ulbrich back to Atlanta, naming their former assistant as defensive coordinator on Saturday night.