Arthur Blank details team evaluation report that led to firings.
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank reached a crossroads with the direction of his football team. In doing so, Blank fired head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot, while also creating a new president of football position within the organization.
Speaking with the media on January 8, Blank addressed the state of the Atlanta Falcons and offered insight into the sweeping changes and what lies ahead.
As for the newly created president of football role — a position many believe could be filled by former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan — Blank outlined its importance in a previously released letter.
“The leader in this new role will set the vision and identity for our team,” Blank wrote.
During the press conference, Blank expanded on that vision and clarified how the structure will function moving forward.
“Our new head coach and general manager will report to the new president of football, and they will work collaboratively as a football leadership team on all football decisions,” Blank said. “Final decision-making authority will rest with the president of football.”
Who ultimately fills any of the three positions remains to be determined, though Blank confirmed multiple interviews have already been lined up for each role.
What stood out most during the press conference, however, was Blank’s explanation for why he felt such drastic moves were necessary.
Weeks before Morris and Fontenot were dismissed, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Blank had commissioned a “health check” of the organization through consulting firm Sportsology. Once both were fired, it fueled speculation that the internal evaluation revealed deeper issues.
Breer later noted the findings were “better than some on the outside might think,” a detail that offered some optimism for incoming leadership.
When asked directly about the evaluation, Blank didn’t shy away from explaining what concerned him most.
“It was a little bit surprising the lack of clarity about the vision for the team,” Blank said. “In any business, any industry, when you don’t have clarity around vision and about what you are trying to establish and trying to build, you’re going to end up with a lot of disparate parts with everybody moving in different directions. That means you are not only unsuccessful — or even partially unsuccessful — but very inefficient.
“As laser-focused as you can be about exactly what you want to do, you can make better selections of players, coaches and coaching staff, hold that kind of consistency in place, and then modify over time depending on what’s happening within the game, because the game is changing.”
After five seasons with Fontenot and two with Morris, Blank felt the organization needed a reset, particularly with the Falcons’ playoff drought now stretching to eight years.
Blank acknowledged he is not involved in the team’s day-to-day football operations.
“Because I have authority does not mean I have knowledge,” Blank said.
That responsibility will fall largely on the president of football, who will oversee interviews for both the general manager and head coaching positions.
Before that process begins in full, however, Blank emphasized the priority is filling the president of football role, noting the Falcons hope to make that hire “very soon.”
