Mora chosen as Falcons head coach

<br>(Atlanta-AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons have reached agreement to hire San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora as the team's head coach, according to a source close to the team. <br><br>The source,

Friday, January 9th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Atlanta-AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons have reached agreement to hire San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora as the team's head coach, according to a source close to the team.

The source, who is close to the negotiations, says the Falcons will make an announcement this morning.

Mora, the son of former New Orleans and Indianapolis coach Jim Mora, was a finalist for the San Francisco job last year before the 49ers hired Dennis Erickson.

Mora met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in his Buckhead office Wednesday for the first time. He interviewed the previous week in Atlanta with Falcons general manager Rich McKay but had not yet met Blank.

Dan Reeves was fired as the Falcons' coach in December and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips took over on an interim basis. Atlanta finished 5-and-11.