The San Francisco 49ers are expected to hire Raheem Morris as their new defensive coordinator, sources including CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones report. Morris, who was dismissed by the Atlanta Falcons after the 2025 season, will take over the role vacated when Robert Saleh left for the Tennessee Titans.
Morris, 49, posted back-to-back 8-9 records in his most recent two seasons with Atlanta. He previously served as the Falcons’ interim coach in 2020 and was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach from 2009–2011, compiling a 37–56 mark as an NFL head coach overall.
Despite mixed results as a head coach, Morris has a strong resume on the defensive side of the ball. He was the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2021–2023, a stretch that included a Super Bowl title, and he was Atlanta’s defensive coordinator in 2020 before stepping in as interim head coach.
Early in his career Morris worked his way up the Buccaneers’ staff, starting in defensive quality control and moving to defensive backs coach before becoming an NFL head coach at age 32. He later coached the secondary in Washington and has crossed paths with current 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan multiple times — including on the Atlanta staff in 2015–2016, when Morris had roles on both sides of the ball while Shanahan was the offensive coordinator.
San Francisco’s defense struggled in 2025, a downturn largely influenced by injuries: Nick Bosa missed significant time with an ACL tear, Fred Warner was sidelined with an ankle issue, and first-round rookie Mikel Williams played only about half the season before suffering an ACL injury. Still, the 49ers reached the playoffs, knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles, and then fell to the Seattle Seahawks.
A major area of concern was the pass rush, one of the league’s least productive in 2025 — an obvious priority for Morris. The club invested its first five picks in 2025 on defensive players, so developing that young crop will be a key test for the new coordinator.
Fan Take: This hire matters because the 49ers’ defensive ceiling hinges on improved pressure and development of high draft picks — Morris’ resume suggests he could deliver both. If he can get the pass rush moving and keep key players healthy, San Francisco could be a stronger Super Bowl contender next season.
