ATLANTA — Raheem Morris, hired as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons last week, continued to fill out his staff by hiring Ike Hilliard as wide receivers coach on Thursday.
Hilliard returns to the NFL after spending the 2022 season in the college ranks Auburn’s co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. He previously worked 10 years in the NFL while coaching wide receivers for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2020-21), Washington Redskins (2012, 2014-19) and Buffalo Bills (2013).
Hilliard’s 12-year career as an NFL receiver included eight seasons with the New York Giants and four with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Morris added Jay Rodgers as defensive line coach and Steve Scarnecchia as chief of staff for coaching operations on Wednesday, when the new head coach also announced he will retain seven assistants from the Falcons’ 2023 staff: run game coordinator and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates, assistant head coach for defense Jerry Gray, senior defensive assistant Dave Huxtable, running back coach Michael Pitre, director of coaching operations Sarah Hogan and coaching operations assistant Donavan Ellison.
Another holdover is Marquice Williams, who was retained as special teams coordinator, a role he held the past three years under Arthur Smith. Morris earlier added Zac Robinson as offensive coordinator and Jimmy Lake to run the defense.