Falcons look to soar high under new leaders

Falcons second-year running back Bijan Robinson carries the ball forward during a game in 2023. Robinson accrued over 1400 yards from scrimmage last season as a dual-threat running back. // Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, USA TodayOn Sunday, Sept. 8, Raheem Morris will begin his first season as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons by competing against his former colleague and biggest influence, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Morris and Tomlin go all the way back to the staff of the 2002 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In their four years working together, Tomlin and Morris formed a close bond that led Morris to label him as one of the most influential people in his entire career during an interview with Barstool Sports. Their paths went in opposite directions after Tampa; Tomlin became head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers before the 2007 season and never looked back, winning Super Bowl XLIII en route to 17 straight winning football seasons. Morris was given the head position for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After three straight losing seasons, the Buccaneers fired Morris and waited 13 long years for his second chance to prove himself as a head coach. Still, the respect both men have for each other will take a backseat to an exciting matchup for the Falcons’ season opener.

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