ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the San Francisco 49ers have hired Raheem Morris to be their defensive coordinator. He succeeds Robert Saleh, who departed after one season to become the Tennessee Titans’ head coach.
Morris brings experience as a former NFL head coach in Tampa Bay and has worked as a defensive coordinator in Atlanta and Los Angeles; he also spent two seasons as Atlanta’s head coach before being let go when the team missed the playoffs.
San Francisco’s defense struggled through a 2025 campaign riddled with injuries, including season-ending losses to All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. The unit ranked 20th in the league in total yards allowed and 13th in scoring defense, giving up 21.8 points per game.
The 49ers are banking on Morris to reshape their defense into one of the NFL’s best and help the club return to title contention. Despite the injury setbacks, San Francisco still went 12-5 and reached the divisional round, where they were overwhelmed by the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, 41-6. With a track record of recent postseason appearances—four of the past five seasons—the team hopes improved health and Morris’s veteran leadership will revive their championship push.
Fan take: This hire matters because a proven coordinator can change a defense’s identity quickly, especially once stars like Bosa and Warner are healthy again. If Morris gets San Francisco’s unit back to elite form, it not only boosts the 49ers’ Super Bowl chances but could also shift defensive strategies across the league.
