The San Francisco 49ers are deep into one of the most pivotal coaching searches of this NFL offseason - finding the right defensive coordinator to steady a unit that’s been elite but in flux. And there’s one name that keeps rising to the top of the conversation: Raheem Morris.
Around league circles, Morris is widely viewed as a strong candidate for San Francisco. The 49ers are looking for more than just a schematic mind - they want someone with a proven track record, a voice that commands respect in the locker room, and perhaps most importantly, someone head coach Kyle Shanahan trusts implicitly. Morris checks every one of those boxes.
He’s no stranger to the big stage. As the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, Morris helped guide that team to a Super Bowl title.
His defenses have played fast, physical, and smart - a blueprint that would fit seamlessly with the talent already in place in San Francisco. But what really makes Morris a compelling fit is his long-standing relationship with Shanahan.
The two have worked together across multiple teams, and that shared history matters when you’re trying to build continuity in a coaching staff.
Shanahan himself hasn’t been shy about his admiration for Morris. “Raheem’s one of the best coaches I’ve been with,” Shanahan said last season.
“I always tried to get him here, every single year.” That’s not just coach-speak - that’s a window into how highly Shanahan regards him.
In a league where words are often measured and vague, that kind of endorsement carries weight.
But there’s a wrinkle. Morris is still in the mix for head coaching jobs, including an ongoing search in Arizona.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Morris is waiting to see how the head coaching dominoes fall. If he doesn’t land a top job, he’s expected to be one of the most sought-after defensive coordinator candidates on the market.
Teams are watching closely - and so are the 49ers.
Fowler also noted that Morris has strong ties not just to Shanahan in San Francisco, but also to Matt LaFleur in Green Bay and Dan Quinn in Washington. That web of relationships gives Morris options - and options mean leverage. Once the head coaching picture clears up, Morris could have multiple offers on the table, and things could move quickly.
That’s why the clock is ticking in Santa Clara. The 49ers can’t afford to let this decision linger.
The defense is loaded with talent - from the front four to the secondary - but what it needs now is consistency. The team has cycled through coordinators in recent years, and while the defense has remained strong, that kind of turnover can catch up with you, especially in high-leverage moments late in the season.
Morris brings more than just Xs and Os. He brings playoff experience, leadership, and the kind of steady hand that can manage star players and high expectations.
He’s done it before. And with the 49ers firmly in win-now mode, that kind of presence on the sideline could be the difference between another deep playoff run and falling just short.
If San Francisco wants Morris, they’ll need to act fast. The opportunity is there - but so is the competition.