The San Francisco 49ers have hired Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator. He will be taking over for Robert Saleh, who landed another head coaching job. This marks the third time in the last six seasons that Kyle Shanahan has had his defensive coordinator leave for a head coaching job.
Saleh originally left the 49ers at the conclusion of the 2020–21 season to become the head coach of the New York Jets. DeMeco Ryans departed following the 2022–23 season to take over as head coach of the Houston Texans. Now, Saleh is again moving on, this time to Tennessee.
In total, this is the fourth time in the last five seasons that Shanahan has been forced to find a new defensive coordinator. While those three left to be head coaches, the other situations involved firings. The 49ers let Steve Wilks go at the end of the 2023–24 season, and they dismissed Nick Sorenson the following year.
Despite San Francisco’s lack of defensive coordinator continuity, there is general optimism that Morris could become a long-term solution. Morris has already had multiple opportunities to serve as a head coach in the NFL. Thus, he has clearly established his credibility; 49ers fans just hope that he can demonstrate stability as well.
Robert Morris’ Defensive Track Record
Robert Morris is a well-respected coach and, more importantly, a well-regarded defensive mind across the league. He is known as a strong leader of men, and the 49ers are fortunate to have someone with his reputation guiding the defense. However, the biggest concern surrounding Morris is that he has never truly coordinated a dominant, lockdown defense.
His strongest season as a defensive coordinator came during his time with the Los Angeles Rams. However, even at their peak, they ranked only 17th in the league. That performance did help build his credibility, though. It played a large role in him landing the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job. That Rams team eventually went on to win the Super Bowl in 2022. But the defense itself was not dominant by any measure, even if Morris deserved credit for his role.
Looking deeper at the numbers, Morris-led defenses have generally struggled to rank near the top of the league. During the 2020 season, Morris began the year as the defensive coordinator in Atlanta. He went on to assume the role of interim head coach after Dan Quinn was fired in October. Ultimately, that team finished 29th in the league defensively.
In the seasons following the Rams’ Super Bowl victory, Morris’ defenses ranked 19th and 20th, respectively. Some attribute his shortcomings to personnel limitations and a lack of defensive talent. Regardless, the numbers speak for themselves. And the numbers are underwhelming. However, Morris’s greatest strength is not one that can always be categorized by rankings.
Leadership Over Scheme
One area where Morris consistently stands out is leadership.
His stint with Atlanta was not his first head coaching opportunity. He previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after beginning his career as a defensive backs coach. Reaching that level requires a level of charisma and leadership that goes beyond X’s and O’s, and that is where Morris excels.
That leadership quality is what ultimately makes this a solid hire for the 49ers, even if questions remain about schematic dominance. Fans are justified in their concerns regarding his on-field results. But Morris’s ability to command a locker room and lead professionals carries significant value.
Were There Other Candidates?
San Francisco considered several additional candidates. The 49ers interviewed Gus Bradley, who was their assistant head coach last season. They also interviewed Joe Woods, who previously spent time on Shanahan’s defensive staff.
Another notable name connected to the job was Jim Schwartz, who is likely to leave Cleveland after being denied the head coaching gig.
Ultimately, though, the 49ers chose experience, leadership, and familiarity with the league in Morris. They hope that stability — something they have lacked for years — can finally take hold on the defensive side of the ball.
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