Raheem Morris has built a career that’s full of twists, turns—and yes, a few head-scratching moments. Emerging from modest collegiate beginnings into the high-stakes world of the NFL, he’s both innovator and improviser. His journey isn’t a simple ascent—it’s jagged, layered, and deeply human. This makes him a fascinating study in resilience, adaptability, and the kind of unpredictability that sometimes yields results.
Raheem Morris began as a safety at Hofstra University in the mid‑1990s, graduating with a degree in Physical Education. He immediately transitioned into coaching—first as a graduate assistant at Hofstra, then stints at Cornell and another return to Hofstra before moving into the NFL. This grounding in defense and analysis became his foundation.
He entered the NFL coaching sphere in 2002 as a defensive quality control coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, contributing to a dominant defense that culminated in Super Bowl XXXVII. His early coaching focus—details, breakdown, execution—set a tone.
In 2006, Morris took on the role of defensive coordinator at Kansas State, helping improve defense metrics and engineering a big upset over #4 Texas. That showed his capability in designing schemes—not just following them.
By 2009, Morris was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at just 33. His first season was rough (0–7 start), but the team rallied to finish 3–13. The next year, they went 10–6, registering one of the biggest one-year improvements in franchise history. He also became the first coach post‑1970 merger to start 10 rookies and still finish with a winning record.
Yet, inconsistency haunted him—2011 ended in a 4–12 collapse, ten straight losses, and his firing in January 2012.
From 2012 to 2014, Morris served as defensive backs coach for Washington. It was a period of rebuilding—on his part and theirs.
From 2015 onward, Morris wore many hats with the Falcons—assistant head coach, defensive pass game coordinator, wide receivers coach, and later offensive pass game coordinator. In 2020, he shifted back to defense, became defensive coordinator, and eventually interim head coach midseason. That half-season he led the team to a 4–7 record.
In 2021, Morris joined the Los Angeles Rams as defensive coordinator. That season he guided a defense that helped lift the team to Super Bowl LVI victory—his second ring as an assistant coach.
He stayed with the Rams through 2023, navigating up-and-down seasons and refining a young defensive core.
In January 2024, Atlanta hired Morris full-time as head coach—making him their first non-interim Black head coach, after a search including the likes of Bill Belichick. Owner Arthur Blank cited his growth in LA and his unified coaching vision.
He called it “coming home,” nodding to his past tenure with the team.
Over two seasons (2024–2025), he delivered consecutive 8–9 records—respectable, but not playoff-worthy. A late-season rally in 2025 included a four-game win streak, but overall, it wasn’t enough: he was dismissed on January 4, 2026.
On February 1, 2026, he was hired by the San Francisco 49ers to lead their defense. Reuniting with Kyle Shanahan, with whom he previously coached across three teams, Morris will transition the defense from a 4–3 scheme under Robert Saleh to his 3–4 approach.
Morris is tactically versatile—comfortable switching between 3–4 and zone-heavy schemes. He also crosses the line into offense from time to time, which is unusual and valuable.
His strength with young defensive talent, particularly during his Rams years, earned praise. The 49ers reportedly hope he’ll enhance pass rush and develop returning stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
Time management emerged as a consistent criticism. A notable example came during his Falcons tenure—an overtime timeout mismanagement against Washington drew media scrutiny.
Morris’s career is less a straight climb and more an exploratory journey. He’s been head coach, assistant, coordinator and interim—on both sides of the ball. His path shows resilience: he’s bounced back from firings, retooled after criticism, and stayed in the conversation when others faded.
“His time in LA has given him an enhanced perspective on everything from personnel, team operations, game planning… I believe his leadership skills have grown and his understanding of what it takes to have a highly collaborative one‑team culture are now at a much higher level.”
— Arthur Blank on Morris’s hire by the Falcons
Raheem Morris—tactician, innovator, journeyman coach—now takes on a crucial role in San Francisco. His defensive acumen, flexible mindset, and proven ability to rebound suggest an intriguing fit with the 49ers’ roster and aspirations. Whether he transforms their defense or navigates scheme friction, it’s a storyline worth watching closely.
Q: What teams has Raheem Morris coached for in the NFL?
A: Morris has held roles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas State (college), Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and was just hired by the San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator.
Q: Has Morris ever won a Super Bowl?
A: Yes—he earned one Super Bowl ring as an assistant with the Buccaneers (XXXVII) and another as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams (LVI).
Q: How successful was his tenure as head coach?
A: As head coach, Morris compiled a record of 17–31 with the Buccaneers and two 8–9 seasons with the Falcons during 2024–2025 before being let go.
Q: What coaching styles is he known for?
A: He’s known for defensive flexibility—comfortable with both 3–4 and zone-heavy schemes—and for a rare willingness to coach on both defense and offense, showing adaptability and breadth.
Q: Why did the 49ers hire him now?
A: The 49ers needed a shift in defensive philosophy and valued his long-standing rapport with Kyle Shanahan, hoping his experience and player development skills elevate their defense.
Q: What challenges has Morris faced in his career?
A: Turnarounds followed by collapses (like Tampa Bay’s 2011), criticism over time management, and being dismissed despite moderate gains underscore a career marked by peaks and valleys.
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