The coaching upheaval throughout the NFL continued Saturday when the Falcons announced the dismissals of a pair of coaches: defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and defensive line coach Jay Rodgers.
The moves came after Atlanta missed the postseason and with Lake having spent just one season in his new position.
He followed head coach Raheem Morris from the Rams, where Morris had been the defensive coordinator.
“After a thorough evaluation of the season, and with careful consideration for our team’s future, we deemed these moves necessary,” Morris said in a release about both firings. “These decisions are never easy from the human side of things and we wish Jimmy, Jay and their families the best.”
Jimmy Lake previously coached at the University of Washington. Getty ImagesIn Morris’ first season at the helm, Atlanta went 8-9 and missed the postseason, the seventh straight year the franchise has finished with a losing record and sat out the playoffs.
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris speaks after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. APMuch of the focus surrounding the team during the regular season was on Kirk Cousins, who was benched for the final three weeks in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Despite a spark by Penix, Atlanta lost two of those games, as the Buccaneers won the NFC South.
The Falcons will now search for their fourth defensive coordinator in the past five seasons.
