San Francisco has turned to a familiar and experienced name to steady its defense. The 49ers are set to hire Raheem Morris as their new defensive coordinator, bringing him aboard to replace Robert Saleh, who has departed for another head coaching opportunity.
Morris arrives after a two-year run as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, where he compiled a 16–18 record, adding to an already extensive résumé that includes previous head coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011. With Kyle Shanahan firmly entrenched as the offensive architect in San Francisco, the 49ers prioritized a seasoned defensive leader, and Morris fits that profile as a proven organizer and play-caller.
On paper, San Francisco’s 2025 defensive numbers did not jump off the page. The unit finished 13th in points allowed, 20th in yards allowed and dead last in sacks. Context, however, tells a far more forgiving story. The 49ers were ravaged by injuries throughout the season, losing cornerstone players such as Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to early, season-ending ailments. Promising contributors like Mykel Williams were also sidelined, and even players who emerged because of those absences, including Tatum Bethune, eventually succumbed to injuries themselves. That the team still managed a 12–5 record and a trip to the Divisional Round was, in many ways, an accomplishment in itself.
Morris now inherits a defense expected to look far different with healthier personnel returning. His reputation for adaptability and maximizing available talent will be tested immediately, but it is also precisely why San Francisco targeted him for the role. His familiarity with NFC West offenses should be an added bonus.
The move also carries a layer of rivalry intrigue. Morris spent three seasons as the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023, winning Super Bowl LVI during his first year in that role. Now, he crosses over to a division rival with the task of helping the 49ers chase a championship of their own, aiming to turn last season’s injury-plagued resilience into something more dominant in 2026.
