Potential Vikings Defensive Fit Was Fired Sunday Night
The Atlanta Falcons wasted no time Sunday night, opting for a change after consecutive losing seasons by firing general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris. Fontenot won’t factor into the Minnesota Vikings’ plans in the offseason, but Morris might.
If Flores moves on, Minnesota will need a new defensive boss. and Morris checks the background, ties, and schematic boxes.
Current defensive coordinator Brian Flores may leave this month or next for a head coaching job, and if so, the Vikings would need a replacement. Morris should be considered a frontrunner for the job.
Why Raheem Morris Fits if Minnesota Loses Brian Flores
Morris is out in Atlanta, and that means something to the Vikings.
Falcons Pull the Lever on Change
As a package deal, Fontenot and Morris were shown the door after Week 18. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote, “The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night after two straight disappointing seasons.”
“Their exits came hours after Atlanta wrapped up an 8-9 campaign with a 19-17 home win over the New Orleans Saints. Fontenot had been with the Falcons since 2021. Morris was hired in 2024.”
Some NFL fans believed Morris might be afforded grace after his team won four straight games to close out the season. The Falcons even personally sent the Carolina Panthers to the playoffs on Sunday by beating the New Orleans Saints. Atlanta disagreed with the grace angle.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank released the following statement: “I have great personal affinity for both Raheem and Terry and appreciate their hard work and dedication to the Falcons, but I believe we need new leadership in these roles moving forward.”
“The decision to move away from people who represent the organization so well and have a shared commitment to the values that are important to the organization is not an easy one, but the results on the field have not met our expectations or those of our fans and leadership. I wish Raheem and Terry the absolute best in their future pursuits.”
Both Fontenot and Morris will need new jobs around the league, and Morris could pique the Vikings’ interest.
Brian Flores Eyeing HC Job
Last year, Flores interviewed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, and New York Jets, franchises that later hired Liam Coen, Ben Johnson, and Aaron Glenn, respectively. There’s no reason to believe Flores would refuse head coaching opportunities this cycle if he entertained them one year ago.
In fact, reporters grilled Flores last week about his 2026 plans, and with a smile, he said he would leave the offseason to the offseason, focusing on the week at hand. It was the perfect opportunity for Flores to say, “I’m staying put here in Minnesota.”
Of course, he didn’t do that — because he wants to be a head coach again. And he should.
If another team hires Flores for the big job, the Vikings will naturally need a new leader. Morris will top many DC-needy teams’ lists.
The Kevin O’Connell + Raheem Morris Connection
O’Connell worked for Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and 2021, winning a Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford and friends in 2021. That championship paved the way for the Vikings to hire O’Connell, a relationship that has now lasted for four seasons.
Guess who coordinated the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning defense in 2021? Raheem Morris.
Coaches love tapping their former coworkers for duty, and O’Connell may be no different this go-round. He and Morris are buddies. That means something in sports. O’Connell will convince himself that he can win a Super Bowl with Morris in Minnesota because they accomplished the task in Los Angeles.
Think of it this way: if Flores takes a head coaching gig, Morris will immediately become the frontrunner to land the Vikings’ defensive coordinator job. Take that to the bank. U.S. Bank, even.
If not Morris — Then Who?
The would-be list for Flores’ replacements is obviously subject to change, but here’s how the candidates might look in addition to Morris:
- Daronte Jones (Vikings Def. Passing Game)
- Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals HC — if fired)
- Patrick Graham (Raiders DC)
- Jim Schwartz (Browns DC)
- Jerod Mayo (Former Patriots HC)
- Todd Bowles (Buccaneers HC — if fired)
- Jeff Ulbrich (Falcons DC)
- Wink Martindale (Former Michigan DC)
Besides Jones, Minnesota’s current defensive passing game coordinator and former LSU defensive coordinator, no man on that list has clearer ties to O’Connell than Morris.
That’s why he’s in pole position for the job if Flores skedaddles.
Flores’ future should take shape within the next two weeks. The Las Vegas Raiders probably make the most sense for his next job due to the Tom Brady connection. Brady and Flores were coworkers in New England for about a decade.
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