ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons have made the decision to part ways with defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers as of Saturday. This move comes in the wake of critiques from first-year head coach Raheem Morris regarding the team’s defense, which fell short of expectations toward the end of the season.
The Falcons, finishing with a record of 8-9, missed the playoffs for the seventh year in a row after suffering a 44-38 overtime defeat against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. In a statement issued by the team, Morris expressed the difficulty of the decision but underscored the necessity of the changes for the team’s future. “After a thorough evaluation of the season, and with careful consideration for our team’s future, we deemed these moves necessary,” he noted, while wishing Lake, Rodgers, and their families well.
While much of the season was marked by the Falcons’ decision to bench quarterback Kirk Cousins and assess rookie Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback moving into the 2025 season, it was the defense’s failure that drew Morris’s critical attention after the recent loss to Carolina. He remarked that he was “really shocked” and “really disappointed in our defense,” indicating a need for a serious reassessment of the team’s defensive strategies.
The staff shakeup was anticipated and did not come as a surprise. Just days before the firings, when questioned about Lake’s future and potential changes, Morris mentioned his league experience, stating, “I’ve been around the league for a while, and very rarely do things stay the same.”
Statistically, the Falcons found themselves ranking 23rd in the league for total defense, allowing an average of 24.9 points per game. They struggled early in the season with their pass rush, finishing last in total sacks after the first nine games, although some players, such as third-year outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie with six sacks, began to show promise toward the end of the season. Matthew Judon, another outside linebacker, notched 5.5 sacks, while linebacker Kaden Elliss led the team with 150 tackles, contributing five sacks.
Safety Jessie Bates III was also a standout performer, recording 102 tackles, four interceptions, and forcing four fumbles. However, despite these individual successes and an improved pass rush, the Falcons’ defense faced significant issues, ranking near the bottom for third-down efficiency and permitting 74 points across two consecutive season-ending losses. This marked another disappointing chapter for the team, which has now recorded seven straight losing seasons.
General manager Terry Fontenot emphasized on Thursday that improving the defense, particularly the pass rush, will be a focus during the offseason. “We have to add on,” he asserted. “So we showed ability; we showed improvement in that area. But this definitely needs to be an area that we continue to improve.”
In light of their season-ending defeat, Morris reflected on his disappointment, pointing out that he had felt optimistic about the team’s trajectory prior to the game’s outcome. He articulated the need for introspection, stating, “The defense and the team took a huge step back,” and recognized the importance of examining the factors that led to such a disappointing conclusion.
Lake previously held a coaching position at the University of Washington, where he had a record of 7-6 during the 2020-21 season. He also served as the assistant head coach for the Los Angeles Rams earlier in 2023.
Among the potential candidates to take over the defensive responsibilities for Atlanta is New York Jets interim coach and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich, who has expressed intentions to interview for the full-time job with the Jets, previously served as an assistant in Atlanta from 2015 to 2020. After stepping in as interim coach, Ulbrich finished with a 3-9 record following the firing of coach Robert Saleh, who is also thought to be a candidate for Atlanta’s defensive leadership and has expressed interest in a similar position with San Francisco’s defensive unit.
