Darnell Mooney found redemption in Atlanta, even if he didn't return to 1,000 yards receiving.
The wide receiver signed a three-year deal with the Falcons last offseason as a potential downfield threat to complement Drake London, then went on to fulfill the team's vision by delivering 992 yards and five touchdowns on 64 catches, all of which ranked second on the club behind his aforementioned teammate.
However, the Falcons' 2024 campaign was ultimately an up-and-down struggle that involved a quarterback change from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr., and ended with a 2-6 record down the stretch to miss the playoffs. Mooney, far less bothered by falling 8 yards shy of a receiving milestone, is hoping he can help the team turn things around this time around.
"I didn't really come here for 1,000 yards," Mooney said this week, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. "I came here to win. So, for, you know, anybody that's like creating that as a top tier for the receivers, that's not what I came here to do. I came here to win games."
Wins have unfortunately been at a premium of late for the Falcons, who haven't finished above .500 since their last playoff trip in 2017.
Nor was Mooney experiencing a plethora of victories in his first four years with the Bears. Chicago sneaked into the playoffs with an 8-8 wild-card berth during his rookie season, but went 24-43 overall while he was catching passes there.
The Bears then neglected to retain Mooney as part of their WR rebuild around Caleb Williams, letting him walk out the door to Atlanta. There, his 992 receiving yards bested all of Chicago's pass-catchers during Williams' rookie campaign (DJ Moore was the closest with 966), and though he fell short of rejoining the 1,000-yard club he first became a part of in 2021, Mooney set a career high with 15.5 yards per reception.
He showcased blazing speed, busting open multiple big plays for the Falcons on deep balls.
As luck would have it, deep passing is an area of Penix's game Mooney has been most impressed by as the QB gears up for his first season starting under center.
"He throws the ball very, very far," Mooney said of Penix. "He has a strong arm. He can get it out whenever he needs to. Like, if it feels like he's late, he won't be late. He can get the ball there in time."
The two will keep working on their chemistry, deep and in all other areas of the field, as Atlanta's offseason program continues. Along with London and other playmakers such as running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts, their production will be paramount to the Falcons finally getting off the playoff schneid.
For now, Mooney is comfortable with the stability he's developed at his second NFL home.
"Well, I was in my villain era last year, [but the Pro Football Writers Association] gave me the good-guy award," he said. "So, that didn't work out too well, but other than that I'm just grateful for (head coach) Raheem (Morris) and [the assistant coaches]. They just allowed me to be myself. So, I can do that, and I'm happy where I am."
