While Raheem Morris is all but certain to return as the Falcons head coach in 2025, there’s not as much certainty around Terry Fontenot’s job security. Kirk Cousins’ abomination of a contract has created buzz around the league about the future of Atlanta’s GM, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“I know some people in the league are at least wondering about the future of Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot in light of the $90 million Kirk Cousins experiment that lasted 14 games and the lack of a banner season since taking over in 2021. Atlanta hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2017 and faces a tall order getting there this season after Sunday night’s loss to the Commanders,” Fowler writes.
Arthur Blank rarely makes hasty decisions. He’s slower to fire a prominent member of the organization than he is quick to pull the trigger. So, while I do find it unlikely that Blank fires Fontenot, if it does happen, I would wager his replacement is already in Flowery Branch. Albert Breer creates an annual list of future GMs, and Falcons assistant GM Kyle Smith appeared on this year’s list.
“Falcons GM Terry Fontenot promoted Smith to assistant GM in spring 2022 because teams were trying to poach the son of late former Chargers GM A.J. Smith—he’d even been seen as strong contender to succeed John Lynch in San Francisco, if Lynch ever were to walk away (which Lynch considered a couple years back). The reason for that is that Smith impressed Kyle Shanahan when the two were together in Washington, and Shanahan wasn’t the only one. Most of the coaches in that tree have similar feelings for Smith, including current Atlanta coach Raheem Morris,” Breer writes.
Kyle Smith succeeding Fontenot would make a lot of sense, considering how Blank operates, the overall landscape of the league, and Atlanta’s situation.
An outside candidate would be coming into Atlanta, where the head coach is already hired, the franchise quarterback (we hope) is already drafted, and the aging and expensive veteran has to be dealt with. That’s not exactly a pristine opportunity for a potential GM.
Arthur Blank hired Raheem Morris while keeping the entire front office intact after firing Arthur Smith. It would line up with his previous decisions if he just promoted Kyle Smith to GM, someone intimately familiar with the organization’s operations.
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Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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