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Tag: Kyle Pitts

  • Falcons fire only Black head coach/GM duo in the NFL following 8-9 season

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    Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot have been fired. Morris, after two seasons at the helm, and Fontenot, following six years as one of the National Football League’s few Black GMs.

    The Atlanta Falcons were the only NFL franchise with a Black head coach and a Black general manager. That is no more.

    Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot spoke with the media before training camp began on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Morris, his staff, and the Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, bringing the overall record to 8-9 for a consecutive season. The two eight-win seasons were more than any of the three seasons of the former head coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. Under Smith, the Falcons went 7-10 for three consecutive seasons, missing the playoffs in each.

    The Falcons’ current streak of missing the postseason is now eight years long. Under Fontenot, the Falcons drafted talented players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and rookies Xavier Watts, Jalon Walker, and James Pearce Jr., but consistently missed the playoffs. Fontenot began his tenure in Atlanta in 2021, holding a six-year contract. Morris signed a five-year contract before the 2024 season.

    Fontenot is owed for one more year, while Morris has three years remaining on his deal that he will have to be paid for. Morris is owed $12 million, according to a source familiar with the deal.

    There was a drastic improvement from Morris’s first season to the 2025 season. Atlanta finished the 2025 season among the top three teams in sacks and set a new franchise record with 57 sacks. During the 2024 season, the defense was at the bottom of league rankings for nearly all defensive categories.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Two is the Magic Number for Falcons

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    The number of the week for the Atlanta Falcons is two. 

    Two: There are two more games remaining in the 2025 campaign, which has been an up-and-down season for the Falcons (6-9). As of late, it has been on the upswing despite the season ending with an eighth straight missed playoff berth. That said, there is still something to play for if you’re in the Falcons locker room or part of the Falcons fan base.

    The Falcons will host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. This is the first and only Monday Night Football game of the season for Atlanta, and it’s a quality chance for the Falcons to continue to play spoiler. The Rams (11-4) are currently a game behind the Seattle Seahawks (12-3) in the NFC West. A loss in Atlanta could force the Rams to begin their playoff run on the road instead of as a top seed in the NFC. 

    Two: Atlanta has won two games in a row after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week and the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Both of those victories have been on the road. 

    Two: The Falcons have two games remaining in the season, and both are at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

    Two: Those two games will be an opportunity for the Falcons, 2-4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this season, to get to .500 on their home turf. A 4-4 home record might not be a big deal for most teams, but considering the season the Falcons are having, a .500 home record and a four-game win streak to close the season is a significant achievement. 

    Two: In both of those victories, tight end Kyle Pitts caught touchdown passes. It’s four total touchdowns in all, but they occurred in consecutive games, hence the number two. Pitts has reached the 80 reception mark and has a chance to get past 1,000 yards receiving for the second time in his career. He currently has 854 yards. His first 1,000-yard season took place nearly five years ago during his rookie season when he was catching passes from Matt Ryan.  

    Two: Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (1,415 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTS) has thrown two or more touchdowns in consecutive games for the first time this season. 

    Two: Bijan Robinson has only scored two or more touchdowns in a game once this year. That was against the Carolina Panthers on November 16, and he scored two touchdowns. Robinson, despite having only scored six touchdowns this season, has over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He is the third Falcon to do so in a single season. 

    Two: Atlanta is two games behind the Carolina Panthers (8-7) in the NFC South standings. 

    Two: That doesn’t matter, though. The Panthers have defeated the Falcons twice this season. Carolina defeated Atlanta 30-0 on September 21 in Charlotte and again in Atlanta, 30-27.

    Two: Falcons receiver Drake London hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last two games. 

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Falcons have plenty to play for heading into final three games

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    First, there was a one-point win over rival Tampa Bay on Thursday Night Football, and now there are three more opportunities to potentially spoil other teams’ seasons. The Atlanta Falcons (5-9 overall) will be back in action in Arizona against the Cardinals on Sunday, and with no playoff hopes in sight, there’s still something to play for.

    Atlanta will be without quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., the rest of the way, but that hasn’t stopped several Falcons from having career years. Running back Bijan Robinson is on pace for a 2,000-yard season from scrimmage despite only having four 100-yard rushing games this season. He had 93 yards rushing on Thursday night. With that, Robinson currently has 1,174 rushing yards (fourth in the NFL) and 684 receiving yards. 

    Robinson is currently among the top 25 in receptions and is behind only San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (86) for the top spot among running backs. 

    Tight end Kyle Pitts, Sr., much maligned for his play and overall effort during his four years with the Falcons, is also in the midst of a strong season. Pitts, with 73 receptions, is third amongst tight ends in receptions behind the Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (105) and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (77). An argument can be made that McBride and Ferguson are featured targets for their teams, where Pitts, Sr. has only recently become a primary target for the current Falcons starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, over the past few weeks.

    On Thursday night in Tampa, Pitts finished the game with  11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. All were season highs by a long shot. A week earlier, in a loss to Seattle, Pitts had six catches, and he had seven during a road loss at the New York Jets. Before the season highs against Tampa, Pitts had a nine-reception game against the Dolphins in a blowout loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 26.

    Falcons rookie defensive end Jalon Walker said he wanted to finish his rookie season on a high note. Asked if winning the final three games of the year would be an efficient high note, Walker, who was volunteering at a holiday event in Tucker on Tuesday, said, “That’s my goal. That’s how I want to end the last chapter of my rookie season.” 

    Falcons rookie defensive end Jalon Walker (above) has 5.5 sacks this season. Fellow rookie James Pearce, Jr. (not shown) has eight. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Walker, a former University of Georgia standout, has 5.5 sacks and 21 tackles this season. His fellow rookie and first-round pick, James Pearce, Jr., has eight sacks.

    The Falcons will close the 2025 regular season with back-to-back games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, beginning with a meeting with one of the best teams in the NFC (at least on paper), the Los Angeles Rams. It will be a reunion of sorts for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who was the Rams’ defensive coordinator before taking the job with the Falcons two seasons ago. 

    The Rams are 11-3 and looking for a bye to start their playoff run. Atlanta, on the other hand, will be looking to get over .500 at home. The Falcons are 2-4 in The Benz and can even out that record and end the season on a high note with wins over the Rams and rival New Orleans Saints in the season finale on January 4. 

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Birdies head to bye week with a W: Falcons win 34-27 over Commanders

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    The Atlanta Falcons (in black) scored on their first three possessions of the game. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Washington Commanders in what quickly became a must-win game following Atlanta’s 30-0 loss in Charlotte last week. In only the second home game of the season, the Falcons managed to score 34 points in a seven-point victory over the Commanders. Go figure.

    The final offensive possession for Atlanta displayed the potential this team has. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix ran for a first down, completed passes to tight end Kyle Pitts and Drake London, and commanded (pun intended)the offense like a veteran.

    Sunday was Penix’s seventh career start.

    An Atlanta Falcons fan wearing a Tony Gonzalez jersey before Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Commanders entered the game on a four-game winning streak against the Falcons. Former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and the Commanders defeated the Falcons in Landover, Maryland, last season. This season, Washington is looking for a bit more motivation with former Falcons starting quarterback Marcus Mariota starting under center for the Commanders, with Jayden Daniels out.

    The Falcons began the game by scoring on their first two possessions of the first quarter. The total time of possession and the usage of Bijan Robinson and Drake London were the highlights of the opening 15 minutes. The Falcons had the ball for 12:27 of the first quarter. During those two possessions, which ended in a 38-yard field goal for Parker Romo and a 5-yard touchdown catch for London from quarterback Michael Penix, Falcons offensive coordinator Zach Robinson mixed the playcalling up well. London had four receptions on that second possession, Robinson had 39 yards rushing on nine carries during the first quarter, and tight end Kyle Pitts caught a pass for a first down.

    A Washington Commanders fan is on his way to the game on Sunday. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Washington, coming off a win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week, finally got the ball back late in the first quarter and began the second quarter with a touchdown drive that ended with a Mariota pass to receiver Luke McCaffrey for the Commanders’ first score of the game.

    Ahead 17-10 following a 43-yard field goal by the Commanders, the Falcons’ offense was back on the field with 5:24 remaining in the first half. For the first time in the game, the Falcons failed to score a point during an offensive possession.

    The Atlanta Falcons lead at the half, 17-10. It was a far cry from the scoreless performance against the Carolina Panthers a week earlier.

    The Falcons’ defense started the second half by giving up a 16-yard play on a first and 30 in Washington’s territory. The Commanders dragged out a long offensive possession that included a Mariota run for 15 yards and a 52-yard field goal from kicker Matt Gay to pull closer at 17-13. That drive ate up nearly five minutes.

    The Falcons answered that score with a touchdown drive that took two plays: a screen pass from Penix to Robinson for 69 yards and a seven-yard touchdown reception by Pitts.

    Falcons rookie safety Xavier Watts intercepted a Mariota pass midway through the third quarter to put the ball back in the hands of Penix and the offense. It’s hard to understand how this team managed to leave Carolina without any points. But they didn’t score on the next possession. Instead, Penix was intercepted on a long pass that put the Commaders back in Falcons territory. A 41-yard field goal by Gay made the score 24-16 in favor of the home team.

    Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier has the patience of a saint. Despite running for 1,000 yards as a rookie three seasons ago, he seems content with getting the backup carries behind Robinson. Allgeier, who should be a well-sought-after free agent next season, scored on a 25-yard run down the Commaders’ sideline to put the Falcons ahead 31-16 at the end of the third quarter.

    This season’s Falcons front line is much improved. Veteran linebacker Kaden Ellis and veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd shared a sack in the first half, and Ellis got another in the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker wasn’t credited with a sack this game, but continued to put pressure on the Commanders’ offensive line.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Falcons’ Trade Rumors Receive Concerning Update

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    The Atlanta Falcons are recovering from a disappointing campaign in which they won seven games and missed the playoffs, and now, they are in quasi-rebuilding mode with Michael Penix Jr. stepping into his first full season as Falcons starting quarterback.

    With that, Atlanta may try to trade some players during the year, and tight end Kyle Pitts has long been viewed as a prime candidate to be dealt. Pitts is entering the final year of his contract, and the Falcons may not be so willing to pay him based on his relatively disappointing production since his brilliant rookie season in 2021.

    More news: Pittsburgh Steelers Star Gets Honest on Aaron Rodgers

    That being said, even though Pitts racked up over 1,000 yards and made the Pro Bowl during his debut campaign several years ago, trading him may not be so simple.

    Jeff Howe of The Athletic provided an update on Atlanta’s status concerning a potential Pitts deal, and it doesn’t seem all that rosy.

    “Teams have been under the impression Pitts could have been available in a trade in the past, and that could be the case if the Falcons stumble before the Nov. 5 deadline,” Howe wrote. “The obstacle there, though, would be the balance of Pitts’ $10.878 million salary.”

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 15: Detail view of an Atlanta Falcons helmet prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Tennessee Titans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by…


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    Of course, much of that will hinge upon Pitts’ production throughout the season. If the 24-year-old is enjoying a strong, healthy campaign, rival clubs may be more amenable to picking up his salary. If not? It could become exceedingly challenging for Atlanta to move the former first-round pick.

    Pitts caught 47 passes for 602 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, marking his second straight season of over 600 yards. However, considering how fantastic Pitts was in Year 1, his output since 2022 has been largely underwhelming.

    More news: New Orleans Saints Blasted for NFL’s ‘Most Shocking’ Trade

    A change of scenery may benefit the University of Florida product, who clearly has talent and could flourish in the right system. But there is no doubt that his downturn has been fairly concerning.

    The Falcons will open up their regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7.

    For more on the Falcons and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.

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