The 49ers are making a big move on the defensive side of the ball, turning to a familiar face with championship pedigree. San Francisco is set to hire former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as their new defensive coordinator - a decision that signals both a return to roots and a clear vision for where this defense is headed.
Morris isn’t new to the Shanahan circle. He and Kyle Shanahan go back to their days in Atlanta, and that connection likely played a key role in this hire.
But this isn’t just about familiarity - it’s about proven success. Morris was most recently the defensive coordinator for the Rams, where he helped guide them to a Super Bowl title.
That kind of resume speaks volumes, especially for a 49ers team that’s been knocking on the door of a championship and knows how critical elite defense is to getting over the hump.
This hire, however, comes with a twist. Just weeks ago, it looked like Gus Bradley - the team’s assistant head coach and a respected voice in the building - was the frontrunner for the DC job. Shanahan even acknowledged as much in his end-of-season press conference.
“Gus would be the main internal candidate,” Shanahan said at the time. “We feel fortunate to get Gus and great about that.”
But as the coaching carousel spun and other teams began circling, the 49ers pivoted. According to NFL insider Albert Breer, both the Titans and Cardinals had interest in Bradley for their own defensive coordinator openings, with Arizona offering the potential for play-calling duties.
That kind of opportunity could be hard to pass up - especially with the Cardinals hiring Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as their new head coach. LaFleur, just 38, knows the NFC West well and is plenty familiar with what Bradley brings to the table.
Bradley’s resume is deep. Before joining the 49ers, he served as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, and earlier in his career, he had a four-year stint as the Jaguars’ head coach. While that tenure didn’t yield much success in the win column - Jacksonville went 14-48 under his watch - Bradley’s reputation as a defensive mind has remained strong.
Still, the 49ers clearly saw something in Morris that fit their current vision. He’s a coach who brings energy, experience, and a modern approach to defense - and he knows what it takes to win at the highest level. With the 49ers already boasting one of the league’s most talented defensive rosters, Morris steps into a situation that’s tailor-made for success.
This move also reinforces something we’ve come to expect from Shanahan and GM John Lynch: they’re not afraid to make bold, calculated decisions if they believe it brings them closer to a Super Bowl. Bringing in Morris might not have been the most obvious choice at first glance, but it’s a move rooted in trust, familiarity, and a shared belief in how championship football is built - from the ground up, starting with the defense.