Raheem Morris ist erst seit eineinhalb Wochen als Head Coach im Amt, aber hat bereits seinen Namen in die Rekordbücher der Franchise eingetragen.
Morris, der nach seiner Zeit als Interimstrainer des Teams im Jahr 2020 nach Atlanta zurückkehrt, ist der erste Vollzeit-Black-Head-Coach in der Geschichte der Franchise, die bis ins Jahr 1966 zurückreicht. Für eine Stadt wie Atlanta, die Morris als "die Hochburg der Schwarzen Geschichte" beschrieb, fühlt sich eine solche Leistung als längst überfällig an.
Eine solche Bezeichnung trägt viel Gewicht, aber seien Sie versichert, Morris versteht die Bedeutung und ist bereit, die Stadt stolz zu machen.
Take a look as head coach Raheem Morris arrives in Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris travels to Atlanta with his family. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look as Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris' wife (far left) looks on during his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a photo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. On Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on his introductory tour at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, February 5, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a portrait at Ticketmaster Studios at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a portrait at Ticketmaster Studios at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris poses for a portrait at Ticketmaster Studios at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind the scenes of Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris facility tour at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind the scenes of Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris facility tour at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind the scenes of Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris facility tour at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind the scenes of Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris facility tour at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Behind the scenes of Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris facility tour at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
"Das geht nicht nur um mich. Das betrifft uns alle. Das ist der Fortschritt, das ist die Bewegung, das ist das, wonach wir suchen. Das Coolste an diesem Prozess ist, dass es nicht einmal angesprochen wurde."
Das Fehlen von Cheftrainern in der NFL mit einem Minderheiten-Hintergrund ist seit vielen Jahren ein Gesprächsthema, aber die Liga hat in dieser Offseason Schritte in die richtige Richtung unternommen. Von den acht in diesem Zyklus eingestellten Trainern kommt die Hälfte aus diversen Hintergründen. Neben Morris sind das Jerod Mayo aus New England, Antonio Pierce aus Las Vegas und Dave Canales aus Carolina, Letzterer wird der einzige aktive hispanische Cheftrainer der Liga sein.
Der 47-jährige Morris, der zuletzt Defensive Coordinator der Los Angeles Rams war, hat bereits viele Herausforderungen gemeistert, um wieder Cheftrainer zu werden. Also, egal welche Hürden sein zweiter Einsatz in Atlanta bereithält, es ist sicher zu sagen, dass er bereit sein wird.
"Sie kennen mich noch nicht sehr gut, aber ich denke wirklich nicht so", sagte Morris. "Ich bin ein kämpferischer Mensch. Ich bin bereit, mich jedem Hindernis zu stellen, das vor mir liegt."
