Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris had to own up to an “embarrassing” mistake his team made late in Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Falcons were trying to hold the 49ers to a field goal late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. in order to give themselves a chance to win the game with a touchdown. They had the 49ers stuck in a 3rd and 13 situation, but gave up a 17-yard reception to Christian McCaffrey to set up a crucial conversion and a touchdown that essentially ended the game.
Replays showed that the Falcons only had 10 players on the field on the 3rd and 13 play, which helped explain why McCaffrey was able to get loose. The 49ers scored one play later to go up 20-10 with 2:26 left.
Raheem Morris confirmed it in the presser, but here is an illustration. https://t.co/RMyYlcHXAa pic.twitter.com/z35TBGUGRk
— Dan Why-Ner (@ReallyDanWeiner) October 20, 2025
Morris admitted to the mistake after the game, calling it “absolutely embarrassing.”
Raheem Morris takes "absolute" responsibility for only having 10 men on the field on that crucial 3rd and 13.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) October 20, 2025
"Absolutely embarrassing."
There is no good explanation for this from Morris’ perspective. It happens from time to time to other teams, usually in a chaotic moment, but it reflects disorganization on the sideline. For it to come that late in the game in a key situation does not reflect very well on Morris.
Morris’ late-game management has come under scrutiny before. The Falcons keep showing flashes under him, but as long as they keep making mistakes like this, consistency will be tough to come by.
