Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is the new kid on the block – sort of.

Former Bucs coach Raheem Morris – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

He’s moved back into the NFC South after being hired by Atlanta earlier this offseason, and his ties to Tampa Bay remain strong despite his head coaching tenure with the Bucs ending after the 2011 season. Since then, he’s been on a circuitous journey through the NFL coaching ranks, climbing the ladder with the hopes of getting a second shot.

Morris recently appeared on the Pewter Report Podcast and delved into a variety of topics.

Whether it is what he has learned from his mentors with the Bucs, what the days were like back as the team’s head coach, or even into modern times discussing his new-look Falcons and the expectations that come with having two new highly acclaimed quarterbacks, little explanation is needed to quantity just how big of a season it is for him back in the division.

Back in the saddle, Morris is excited for the ride ahead.

One that he hopes leads to an NFC South division title at the Bucs’ expense.

Raheem Morris Respects Bucs, Knows “It’s Going To Be A Heck Of A Ride” This Season

The NFC South has been a hard-fought battle to win over the past couple of seasons. It has not always been pretty or in the most convincing fashion, but the Bucs have still won it for the past three years.

Falcons HC Raheem Morris – Photo by: USA Today

Raheem Morris wants to change that, and he joins a team with higher expectations. Coming off a 7-10 season in which the Falcons alternated between the underwhelming quarterback options of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, they doubled up and upgraded in a major way by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal and by drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With Cousins at the helm, the team has a higher ceiling with him being better suited to utilize his offensive weapons. Running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, wide receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney, as well as tight end Kyle Pitts come to mind. Pair the upgrades on offense with a revamped defense led by the minds of Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, and one can rationalize why they are projected to be more competitive and vie for the division crown.

Yet, Morris is not buying into all of the hype.

He’s learned from his time in Tampa Bay and across the NFL and knows what kind of division he is re-joining. It was not that long ago he was with the Falcons under Dan Quinn and later filling in as the interim head coach in 2020 when Quinn was fired.

That just so happened to be the year the Bucs went all the way to the Super Bowl. Seeing all of this up close has taught him what comes with the territory.

Falcons HC Raheem Morris – Photo by: USA Today

“First thing, you never buy into that hype of the favorite,” Morris said of Atlanta being picked as the NFC South favorites by many in the national media. “You’ve been in this division long enough to know, we went through a stretch where a different [team] won it every year. We’ve gone through a stretch where you guys (the Bucs) have been able to maintain this dominance in the last couple of years, and this division will do nothing but get better and better. I know a lot of your people [in Tampa Bay], I know what you’re made of.”

From top to bottom, the Bucs are a team that Morris has a lot of admiration for. He also understands that each week will get his team closer to taking over and asserting division dominance.

“I got so much respect for Todd Bowles,” Morris added. “I got so much respect for Baker Mayfield. I got so much respect for Mike [Evans] and some of the stuff you guys [in Tampa Bay] have done on both sides of the ball. I can go on all day, linebacker [Lavonte David] and all of those guys.

“You got to go out and you got to play. You got to play to match up with what is put in front of you each week. You got to go out there and win those divisions and take those divisions. If you don’t, you’ve sadly mistaken yourself and what the clarity of it all means. Those expectations you got when you have a quarterback, give me those expectations because I know what it’s like when you don’t have one.”

Morris was likely alluding to his time in Tampa Bay where Josh Freeman’s downfall in 2011 led to 11 straight losses – and Morris’ firing – after a promising 4-1 start that year.

“I got so much respect for the people we’re going to play against,” Morris said. “It’s going to be a heck of a run, it’s going to be a heck of a ride in this division. We’re going to get back to the old days of the NFC South where – let’s see who can win this thing. Let’s go out there and try to win and do what we got to do. You guys [in Tampa Bay] have held it down, and I got a lot of respect for the people in that building.”

Raheem Morris Provides Intel On New Falcons QBs Kirk Cousins And Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons QBs Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

In Raheem Morris’ own building, there is a lot of intrigue surrounding quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr.

Cousins signed a massive deal on the heels of a torn Achilles, while Atlanta surprisingly selected Penix in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft despite having bigger needs after locking in Cousins.

Despite the storylines emerging from that, Morris weighed in on how Cousins is coming along from his injury, and what lessons Penix is learning from the accomplished 12-year NFL signal caller.

“Kirk is being held back by me only and that’s by design,” Morris said. “He’s shown an ability to get out there and scramble and I’m blowing a quick whistle … He’s really come back and bounced back and he’s done a great job over the summer to come back and make sure he was in tip-top shape in order to lead this offense. Our leader is ready to go and I’m fired up to see him. Obviously not in these preseason games but I’m fired up to see him start this season and go.”

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

While Cousins is progressing physically, Penix is progressing mentally as he adjusts to the NFL. In his first taste of action, he threw 9 of 16 passes for 104 passing yards in the Falcons’ 20-13 loss to the Dolphins on Saturday night.

“Young Michael [Penix Jr.], I’ve loved the way he has gravitated and learned under Kirk because he has a wealth of knowledge and wealth of experience of being that fighter,” Morris added. “Being that guy that comes in, being that guy that’s able to do it. Doing it at a high level in this league for a long time and watching him play these last 12 years, whether it’s been the Vikings or in D.C.

“I can’t say how proud I am of it, but I’m more proud to watch him share his story with Michael Penix and our team to make us better. That’s what he’s done and that’s all you can ask from your leader and your floor general. That’s what he’s been able to do for us and I’m very excited.”

Raheem Morris is excited to kick off this season as a head coach again with the goal of besting a team he once led. Long known for his trademark smile, it won’t be smiles when Morris and the Falcons face the Bucs twice in the regular season.

Watch Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris On The Pewter Report Podcast

If you want to check out Falcons head coach Raheem Morris’ full interview on last Thursday’s show with Scott Reynolds and Adam Slivon, check it out below.