Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, just had to put out a statement of disappointment after his team’s 2024-season performance. Despite a strong start, the Falcons struggled in the latter half of the season, ultimately missing the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. Though this season hasn’t gone quite the way they’d hoped, Blank has an optimistic outlook going forward, especially looking toward a more competitive 2025 season.
The Falcons were fired up to start the 2024 season. They celebrated a two-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 and gleefully strutted around their domed home celebrating their still-perfect 4-0 divisional record. The fortunes of this team time and again went to the extreme in a dramatic fashion. After losing six of their final eight games, the wheels fell off and they crashed to a sad 6-10 record. This was yet another year without a winning season for the franchise, widening a streak that has continued since 2017.
“The 2024 season was the saddest,” Blank said on a recent call. He noted how crucial each year has been for the Falcons. Of course, he is excited about making on field progress. Blank is looking forward to the upcoming offseason and the opportunities it presents, particularly with the No. 8 overall draft pick looming.
With an eye on bolstering the team’s defense, Blank indicated that the emphasis during the draft will be “certainly on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s pretty obvious to everybody, I would say. The Atlanta Falcons have undergone one of the biggest overhauls this offseason, a key area being their coaching staff. They subbed former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake for Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich has a deep history coaching defenses, and he worked alongside Raheem Morris while Dan Quinn was running the show in Atlanta.
It wasn’t just the draft that allowed the Falcons to beef up their roster, though. Most recently, they signed former Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Leonard Floyd. This was a smart move to add depth and experience to their defense. Blank hopes to reinvigorate the beleaguered team with these moves. Their goal is to assemble an exciting and competitive roster heading into the new seasons.
Beyond defensive tweaks, Atlanta made changes to their offensive front as well. Back to the commanders now, their main acquisition this offseason was bringing in Michael Penix Jr. to be their starting quarterback in 2024. Penix was officially named the starter “moving forward” during Week 16, injecting new life into the Falcons’ offense. Penix will be in exclusive company with stars such as Bijan Robinson and Drake London. Together, they are set to run one of the most exciting offenses as they enter 2025.
Raheem Morris just wrapped up his first full season as the Falcons full-time head coach. Blank acknowledged Morris’s understanding of his expectations for improvement, stating, “Raheem certainly understands I was disappointed, Terry certainly understands I was disappointed.” These sentiments demonstrate Blank’s dedication to building a positive culture both on and off the pitch.
The Falcons find themselves on the cusp of one of the most important moments in franchise history. Blank, a firm believer in the potential for this franchise success, doesn’t plan on those lowered expectations continuing. Fresh young recruits team up with a weathered, veteran coaching staff. Combined with a clear game plan for the draft, it sets an optimistic tone for the future.
Leave a Reply