MINNEAPOLIS — In just about every way, Raheem Morris' and Jeff Ulbrich's backs were against the wall.
The year was 2020. The month was October. The Falcons had not won a single game to start the season. At 0-5, they were set to face the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 6. They were going to do so under the strangest of circumstances.
On Monday morning, the coach they had been working alongside for years, Dan Quinn, was let go. Morris was promoted to interim head coach, Ulbrich to interim defensive coordinator. Later that day, Morris addressed the team on a Zoom call. All of this happened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember, in-person team meetings were not a thing then. They couldn't be.
Tuesday was a regularly scheduled player off day. Wednesday was practice. Thursday? Practice was canceled as the Falcons' defensive line was on red alert with positive COVID-19 tests popping up in the room. Because of close-contact tracing, the entire group was sequestered as some players (and coaches) tested positive and others didn't.
By travel time Saturday, the Falcons had chartered a second team plane specifically to get the defensive line up to Minnesota to play.
At the time, Minnesota had a top-5 rushing attack with Dalvin Cook. So, for all of these reasons — the coaching change, COVID-19 outbreak and opponent's strength — the Falcons' outlook for that game on Sunday looked bleak.
In the bleakness, though, Ulbrich remembers connecting with Morris in a much deeper way than every before.
The saying goes that adversity changes someone. For Ulbrich, the adversity he and Morris faced together that week revealed who they were at their core, and why their partnership works so well.
"I think Rah knew who I was and I knew who Rah was, but if there was any doubt, that gets absolutely eliminated at that moment," Ulbrich said.
Presently, Morris and Ulbrich have the same titles they did when this story was unfolding. Well, except they don't have the "interim" tag any longer.
When asked what he remembered from that time, Morris laughed.
"Not a lot," he quipped. "It was definitely a blur, but I definitely remember the win."
Oh yeah, that's because the Falcons did win. They defeated the Vikings, 40-23, earning their first win of the 2020 season.
And though Morris said he couldn't remember much beyond that, he does remember Ulbrich, his right-hand man beside him every step of that week — from the sadness of Quinn's departure to the elation of a win.
Asked if he could recall he and Ulbrich leaning on each other that week in 2020, Morris was quick to correct the statement.
"I don't think it was Brich and I. I think it was more me leaning on Brich," Morris said. "Like when it came to taking over the defensive responsibilities and being able to manage things similar to how it is now."
Ulbrich said that win, the first of 2020, was a special moment for Morris, as much as it was a special moment for the team itself. It was special in how much it was needed.
If there's an imaginary line that began that week in October 2020, it comes full circle in September 2025 with Morris and Ulbrich returning for the first time to Minnesota in the roles they once had, now with official head coach and defensive coordinator titles.
With their backs against the wall in 2020, they learned a lot about each other, One could say they are here now because of it.
"Although nobody wants to go through adversity like that," Ulbrich said, "there's tremendous power in it."
The Falcons take flight for the first time this season to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Vikings in week two of the 2025 season on Sunday Night Football. #RiseUp
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman David Onyemata #90 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. #33 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 boards the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
Delta plane at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Atlanta Falcons)
