Falcons' Raheem Morris adds Ike Hilliard to staff as wide receivers coach

New Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris continued to fill out his staff by hiring Ike Hilliard as wide receivers coach Thursday.

Hilliard returns to the NFL after spending the 2022 season as Auburn’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He worked 10 years in the NFL coaching wide receivers for Pittsburgh (2020-21), Washington (2012, 2014-19) and Buffalo (2013).

Hilliard’s 12-year career as an NFL wide receiver included eight seasons with the New York Giants and four with Tampa Bay.

On Wednesday, Morris added Jay Rodgers as defensive line coach and Steve Scarnecchia as chief of staff for coaching operations.

Morris also announced he’s keeping 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.

Morris, the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, was hired on Jan. 25 and will be formally introduced at a news conference on Monday.