Two Atlanta Falcons players have been punished for unnecessary roughness during a Week 11 matchup with the Carolina Panthers in which multiple players from each times have been disciplined.
The NFL announced Saturday that special teamer Jamal Agnew was fined $14,056 for illegal use of a helmet on a play in the first quarter with 5:25 remaining. Linebacker Arnold Ebiketie was also fined $15,589 for a hip-drop tackle in the third quarter with 1:57 remaining. Neither infraction was penalized during the game.
The Panthers (6-5) went on to defeat the Falcons 30–27 in overtime. Atlanta (3–7) suffered its fifth consecutive loss, including back-to-back overtime defeats.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, but the Falcons were unable to recover after Michael Penix Jr. left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter. Backup Kirk Cousins struggled to generate offense in overtime.
“We got to find a way to make plays,” Head coach Raheem Morris said. “I keep saying it every single week: Somebody’s got to make a play at the end, whether it be offense, defense or special teams. We had some opportunities and were not able to get it.”
It was a heavily fined game, as the Panthers also had two players penalized by the NFL. Receiver Tetairoa McMillan was fined $14,491 for an unsportsmanlike conduct/violent gesture in the second quarter with 1:35 remaining, while cornerback Corey Thornton was fined $4,685 for unnecessary roughness on a defenseless player in the second quarter with 9:42 remaining.
Raheem Morris Has One of the Hottest Seats
In his second season, Morris accepted that the responsibility for another narrow loss rests on his shoulders.
“You know, we’ve lost a bunch of games in a row in tight moments, and you got to find a way to win those games,” Morris said. “It definitely is on me. There’s no such thing as a losing team. There’s only a losing leader, and I’m the leader, and we lost.”
According to the “next to be fired” odds, Morris is leading the pack, surrounded by Raiders’ Pete Carroll, Cardinals‘ Jonathan Gannon and Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel. Two head coaches have already been dismissed this season—Brian Daboll by the Giants and Brian Callahan by the Titans.
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons reacts during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Front Office May Stick With Morris, a Longtime Assistant
General manager Terry Fontenot is under scrutiny for roster decisions that have yet to translate into wins. While the team clearly has talent and a roster built to compete, injuries and missed opportunities—such as trading away a potential top-10 2026 draft pick—have intensified speculation about possible changes. There is still interest in coaching this roster, but with only six games remaining, the stakes are higher than ever.
Owner Arthur Blank has long been known for his patience, but a strong finish down the stretch could determine whether the Falcons enter the offseason with hope or face tough questions about coaching, management, and the roster.
Morris is 15–23 as Atlanta’s head coach. He is well connected in Atlanta as a longtime assistant. He previously went 17–31 while leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, giving him a career record of 32–54. He also has two Super Bowl rings as an assistant, including serving as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in their 2022 Super Bowl victory.
Morris has faced criticism in the past for time management as a head coach, an area he appears to have focused on this season, with several Falcons games coming down to the final moments of regulation.
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