Falcons coach becomes first to be fired in the NFL this season after embarrassing Panthers loss

The first NFL coach to be fired during the 2025 season is Ike Hilliard, who led the Atlanta Falcons' wide receivers and was let go on Monday by head coach Raheem Morris. 

Hilliard was let go after the Falcons were dismantled by division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, on Sunday 30-0, the largest margin of victory for the team in a decade. 

Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr had the worst game of his short professional career, throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. 

Penix has not thrown a touchdown to a wide receiver or tight end through three weeks of the NFL season, with the Falcons offense only scoring one touchdown in its last two games. 

Hilliard getting the ouster appears to be a proactive move instead of letting problems compound, as more than just the former wide receiver's coach can be to blame for Atlanta's 2025 problems. 

Hilliard is an experienced NFL assistant, with more than a dozen seasons on league team's offensive staff. 

Hilliard had been on the Falcons staff since last year, when he was brought into the team by Morris after he was hired to be at the helm after Bill Belichick did two interviews for the spot.  

Hilliard's longest tenure with one team before going to Atlanta was with Washington, where he spent six seasons as the then-Redskins wide receivers coach. 

Before getting into coaching, Hilliard was an accomplished NFL wide receiver himself, playing for the New York Giants for eight seasons and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four more.

Atlanta's offensive passing game coordinator T.J. Yates will take over Hilliard's responsibilities, while Morris has announced other changes to the team's structure. 

Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will move from the coach's box to the field to call plays for the first time since arriving with the Falcons. 

The Falcons will have a tough test in Week 4 to right the ship, as they will face one of the best team in the NFC, the Washington Commanders, who defeated Atlanta last season in one of Penix's first games as a starting quarterback.