FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris made a change on his offensive staff on Monday, firing wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard one day after a 30-0 loss at Carolina.
The Falcons passed for only 201 yards as they were shut out for the first time falling 25-0 to the New England Patriots on Nov. 18, 2021.
Passing game coordinator T.J. Yates will now coach the wide receivers. The Falcons announced the staff changes after Morris met with reporters.
Michael Penix Jr. threw two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by Chau Smith-Wade. Another pick came on a play when wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud slipped. Another receiver, Darnell Mooney, has struggled since missing the preseason with a hamstring injury.
When addressing Mooney's performance on Monday, Morris said, “We’ve got to get to the point that we’ve got to go out there and play the right way. But, no, he’s not playing, we’re not playing the brand of football we need to play with Mooney, and we’re capable of so much more, without a doubt.”
The Falcons (1-2) host Washington on Sunday.
Hilliard was a wide receiver for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a standout college career at Florida. Hilliard has coached in the NFL for Miami, Washington, Buffalo and Pittsburgh and worked for one year on Auburn's staff before joining the Falcons in 2024.
Yates joined the Falcons in 2021 and previously coached wide receivers in 2022 and 2023.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard looks on before a preseason NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Aug. 12, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
KOHALA, Hawai‘i--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--
Kuleana Rum Works, the Hawai‘i-based distillery known for its additive-free, award-winning rums, today announced the release of “An Open Letter on Additive-Free Rum,” written by Founder & CEO Steve Jefferson, addressing why rum is now facing the same scrutiny and market shift that reshaped tequila a decade ago.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107792953/en/
Consumers across spirits are demanding more honesty about how products are made. Additive-free labeling has already transformed tequila and is reshaping whiskey and RTDs. Drinkers now expect producers to protect natural flavor instead of masking it, and bartenders increasingly use transparency as a measure of quality. The letter positions rum as the next category entering this accountability cycle, as more consumers begin to question undisclosed sweeteners, flavorings and added color.
Tequila provides the clearest precedent. Producers who embraced additive-free methods helped premiumize the category, while brands relying on undisclosed additives now face growing skepticism. According to the letter, rum is approaching the same turning point. Jefferson explains that Kuleana Rum Works was founded on additive-free principles: growing heirloom Hawaiian kō (sugarcane), fermenting and distilling fresh juice at lower proof to preserve natural character, adding nothing after distillation and holding all blending partners to the same standards. Every rum — whether distilled in Hawai‘i or sourced — is verified additive-free through independent lab testing and supplier documentation.
“Consumer expectations are changing fast across spirits,” said Steve Jefferson, Founder and CEO of Kuleana Rum Works. “People want honesty in what they drink, and they’re rewarding producers who protect natural flavor rather than covering it up. Additive-free isn’t a trend — it’s becoming the standard, and rum is now facing that shift head-on.”
Additional detail in the letter underscores how production choices such as fresh juice fermentation, low-proof distillation and a strict no-additives policy create transparency and flavor integrity that align with what the market is valuing.
About Kuleana Rum Works
Founded on the island of Hawai‘i in 2013, Kuleana Rum Works crafts award-winning, additive-free rums — led by its signature Hawaiian Rum Agricole® — from fresh kō (heirloom Hawaiian sugarcane) grown on its regenerative Kohala farm. Now available in 17 states and Japan, Kuleana Rum Works champions excellence, transparency and community stewardship. Visit kuleanarum.com to learn more.
https://kuleanarum.com/additive-free/
