The San Francisco 49ers are bringing in a seasoned voice to their defensive coaching staff, hiring longtime NFL assistant Jerry Gray. At 63, Gray adds a wealth of experience to a unit already known for its toughness and discipline-and now he reunites with a familiar face in defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Gray spent the 2023 season as the assistant head coach for defense with the Atlanta Falcons. When Kevin Stefanski took over as Atlanta’s new head coach, Gray’s future with the team became uncertain. But the dots quickly connected: Morris, who served as the Falcons' head coach last season, landed in San Francisco this offseason, and now Gray is following him west to join a 49ers defense that’s been one of the league’s most consistently dominant units in recent years.
This move isn’t just about familiarity-it’s about fit. Gray’s resume speaks for itself.
A first-round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft, he played nine seasons in the league before transitioning to coaching in 1995. Since then, he's built a reputation as a defensive backs specialist with stints across the NFL, including with the Titans, Redskins, Seahawks, Vikings, and Packers.
He’s also been a defensive coordinator twice, bringing not just technique but big-picture understanding to any sideline he’s on.
For Morris, having Gray on staff is a strategic win. The 49ers had shown interest in interviewing Falcons secondary coach Justin Hood earlier this offseason, but Atlanta blocked that request. So instead, San Francisco pivoted to someone with even more experience-and someone Morris already knows he can trust in the film room and on the practice field.
Despite some turnover, the 49ers’ defensive coaching core remains largely intact. Kris Kocurek continues to lead the defensive line, Johnny Holland is back with the linebackers, and Ray Brown remains in charge of the cornerbacks. However, the departures of Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley to the Tennessee Titans do create some gaps that Gray’s arrival helps fill.
This isn’t just a hire-it’s a strategic alignment. Gray brings decades of insight, a track record of developing talent, and a deep understanding of how to build a secondary that can thrive in today’s pass-heavy NFL. In a league where margins are razor thin, adding a veteran mind like Gray's could be the kind of move that pays off when it matters most-deep into January.