.png) Morris with theAtlanta Falcons in 2024 | |
| Atlanta Falcons | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1976-09-03)September 3, 1976 (age 48) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Irvington(Irvington, New Jersey) |
| College: | Hofstra (1994–1997) |
| Career history | |
As a coach: | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 29–47 (.382) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Raheem Morris (born September 3, 1976) is an American professionalfootball coach who is thehead coach for theAtlanta Falcons of theNational Football League (NFL). He previously served ashead coach of theTampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011 and interim head coach of the Falcons in 2020. Morris also was an assistant coach for theKansas State Wildcats,Washington Redskins, andLos Angeles Rams.
Morris graduated fromHofstra University with a degree in Physical Education in 1998 after playing safety at Hofstra from 1994 to 1997.[1] That same year, he began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Hofstra University, being responsible for coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports and handling video breakdown and computer input and analysis. In 1999, Morris was hired byCornell University as their defensive backs coach andspecial teams assistant. The following year, he returned to Hofstra as defensive backs coach. Morris spent time in 2001 as an intern with theNew York Jets.[2]
Before the 2002 season, Morris was hired by the Buccaneers to become their defensive quality control coach, where he helped them have the top-ranked defense and win the franchise's first everSuper Bowl, beating theOakland Raiders 48–21 inSuper Bowl XXXVII.[3] In 2003, Morris became a defensive assistant. From 2004 to 2005, he was the assistant defensive backs coach. After 2005, Morris went to Kansas State to be theirdefensive coordinator.
Morris spent one season with theKansas State Wildcats in2006, as defensive coordinator under then-head coachRon Prince.[4] Morris helped the defense in several statistical categories including total defense, scoring defense and pass defense, and aided the Wildcats in their upset of the #4Texas Longhorns during the2006 season.
Before the 2007 season, Morris returned to the Buccaneers to be their defensive backs coach, replacingGreg Burns. After the team's pass defense fell to 19th in 2006, Morris helped the pass defense achieve the league's top ranking in 2007.
In December 2008, it was announced that Morris would take over asdefensive coordinator for the Buccaneers for the 2009 season afterMonte Kiffin announced that he would be leaving the team to join his son,Lane Kiffin, atTennessee.[5] Just a month later on January 16, 2009,head coachJon Gruden was fired by the Buccaneers and Morris was named the team's head coach.[6] Morris had also interviewed for head coach with theDenver Broncos before being hired by Tampa Bay.[7]
After starting the season 0–7, Morris earned his first victory as a head coach in week 9 against theGreen Bay Packers. On November 24, 2009, Morris took over defensive coordinator duties after relievingJim Bates of his duties.[8] He finished his first year as the head coach, leading the team to last in theNFC South with a 3–13 record. In his second season, the team finished 10–6, barely missing the playoffs. That seven-game turnaround was the best in franchise history. In 2010, Morris became the first coach since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to start at least 10 rookies and finish with a winning record.[9]
During Week 13 of the2011 NFL season, against theCarolina Panthers, Morris banished defensive tackleBrian Price to the sideline after Price shoved Panthers guardMackenzy Bernadeau well after the end of a third-quarter play in whichCam Newton was sacked for a four-yard loss.[10] Price was penalized for unnecessary roughness. Morris was incensed because the sack would have forced the Panthers into a 3rd-and-14 situation. However, the resulting 15-yard penalty gave the Panthers a first down, allowing them to complete a touchdown drive that put the game out of reach (the Panthers won 38–19).[11] After the game, a visibly angry Morris called Price's actions "foolish" and "selfish." The move drew comparisons to thenSan Francisco 49ers coachMike Singletary banishingVernon Davis from the sideline after a personal foul in 2008.[12]
On January 2, 2012, Morris was fired as head coach of the Buccaneers after a 4–12 season, including losing their last 10 games.[13]
On January 11, 2012, Morris was hired by theWashington Redskins as their defensive backs coach, a position he held until the end of the 2014 season.[14]
On January 26, 2015, it was announced Morris was joining theAtlanta Falcons as assistant head coach/defensive backs.[15] On January 25, 2016, he was named the wide receivers coach and no longer the defensive backs coach.[16]
In the 2016 season, Morris and the Falcons reachedSuper Bowl LI, where they faced theNew England Patriots on February 5, 2017. In the Super Bowl, the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[17]
On November 4, 2019, Morris was reassigned to secondary coach.[18]
On December 27, 2019, Morris was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2020 NFL season.[19]
On October 12, 2020, Morris was promoted to interim head coach, following the firing ofDan Quinn after an 0–5 start to the season.[20] The Falcons finished with a 4–7 record under Morris but finished 4–12 overall and fourth in the NFC South.[21]
On January 21, 2021, Morris was hired by theLos Angeles Rams as defensive coordinator under head coachSean McVay, replacingBrandon Staley, who left to become the head coach of theLos Angeles Chargers.[22] On February 13, 2022, Morris won his second Super Bowl as the Rams defeated theCincinnati Bengals 23–20 inSuper Bowl LVI.[23]
After interviewing Morris, as well asBill Belichick,Jim Harbaugh, andMike Vrabel, theAtlanta Falcons hired Morris as their head coach on January 25, 2024.[24][25] The Falcons finished the 2024 season second in the NFC South with an 8–9 record.[26]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| TB | 2009 | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB | 2010 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB | 2011 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| TB Total | 17 | 31 | 0 | .354 | — | — | — | — | ||
| ATL* | 2020 | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| ATL | 2024 | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 2nd in NFC South | – | – | – | – |
| ATL Total | 12 | 16 | 0 | .429 | — | — | — | — | ||
| Total | 29 | 47 | 0 | .382 | — | — | — | — | ||
*Interim head coach
