The Falcons search for a head coach dominated the headlines for a couple of weeks. A search that ended at an unexpected place after all signs pointed to Arthur Blank bringing Bill Belichick to Atlanta.
Even before Arthur Smith was fired, reports connected Belichick to the Falcons. Once both sides were free to engage with one another, reports surfaced that Blank was desperate to hire him, and one reporter went as far as to say she expected the Falcons to hire Belichick.
However, in a move that shook the NFL world, the Falcons announced they’d be hiring Raheem Morris and not Belichick. Now, the picture of the process is becoming more clear.
According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, the architect of The Patriot Way, responsible for six Super Bowls in New England wanted the same powers he enjoyed with the Patriots.
“The crossroads, according to a source familiar with the Falcons and Blank, was the element of realignment that would’ve needed to take place inside the Falcons to maximize a Belichick hire. While Blank and Belichick apparently never discussed a detailed plan of how a linear chain of command under the head coach would work, the source said meetings with Blank crystalized Belichick’s continued belief that the full scope of football operations, personnel and coaching should be under his decision-making umbrella.”
To add even more context, Albert Breer expanded on the Falcons going away from Belichick, saying that internal pressure and ramifications of bringing in Belichick, who wanted similar autonomy as he enjoyed in New England, forced Blank to go away from his top target.
“My understanding is Blank went into the process wanting to hire Belichick as coach,” Breer writes. “But those around the owner, fearing what that could mean for them, nudged him in different directions. After a while, the amount of change hiring Belichick could require weighed on Blank. Especially when taking into consideration that making that amount of change might only get him two years of Belichick.”
CEO Rich McKay, GM Terry Fontenot, assistant GM Kyle Smith and team president Greg Beadles were part of the Falcons search committee, and it’s clear who Blank values the most — McKay.
There were rumors that Belichick and McKay wouldn’t work together, and it seems there’s some validity to them. The Falcons owner was clearly influenced by McKay and others.
I’m glad the Falcons didn’t hire Bill Belichick and give him total control; it’s an overall net positive, especially while landing someone like Raheem Morris and keeping Terry Fontenot in place. However, Blank being swayed is disconcerting. Yes, it was in a good direction, but it seems like it’s for all of the wrong reasons.
It felt like Arthur Blank didn’t hire who he thought to be the best head coach but the easiest option. I still love the Morris hire, but I hate the process.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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