.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Former Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris is returning to the NFC West as a defensive coordinator to coach the San Francisco 49ers defense.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers are set to hire former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as their defensive coordinator. Morris is replacing Robert Saleh, who was hired as the Tennessee Titans head coach.
MORE: Former Seahawks and 49ers legend believes Niners should trade for top-tier receiver
Morris was the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2021-2023, which resulted in a Super Bowl victory with a defense led by all-time great Aaron Donald. Morris spent five years in Atlanta prior to the Rams job as an assistant and returned in 2024 to be head coach.
Morris and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan crossed paths early in their careers with the Buccaneers in the early 2000s, later working together in Washington in 2012 and 2013, and again in Atlanta from 2015 to 2016.
MORE: Former 49er defensive back suggests the team should change its draft approach
Longtime NFL defensive coordinator and current 49ers assistant head coach Gus Bradley was viewed as the favorite to land the job permanently, which is something Shanahan even alluded to during the end-of-year news conference. But the team chose to go in a different direction.
Last season, Saleh did a good job of adjusting to the several key injuries the 49ers dealt with, including stars Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. San Francisco remained middle of the pack on defense in the NFL rankings and finished 12-5, losing in the divisional round of the playoffs.
English (US)