Hire the Rams Raheem Morris as their next defense coordinator? That was the rumor on Tuesday, and from around 4pm PT Josina Anderson reports that sources say Morris has indeed been appointed, while Jourdan Roridgue of The Athletic confirms that her sources also say things are going in that direction.
But no one with the Rams has confirmed that the Rams will hire Morris to replace the late Brandon Staley.
I’m told Raheem Morris will be the next defense coordinator for the # Frame, per source. (NFLN 1st linked Morris as a target).
– IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) 19 January 2021
As previously reported, Raheem Morris was the top candidate for the Rams DC job, and the sense was that they could hire quickly this week.
Things indeed follow that way, says a source.
– Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) 19 January 2021
Morris, 44, worked under Jon Gruden and with Sean McVay in the middle of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He never served as an NFL defense coordinator until he was promoted by the Bucs to head coach in 2009, when he was just 33 years old. The Bucs passed 3-13 in its first season, then 10-6 in its second, but missed the playoffs.
Morris was fired after Tampa Bay finished 4-12 in 2011.
He returned to the Mike Shanahan Tree, where he worked for Washington from 2012-2014. Then in 2015 he was hired by Dan Quinn to be an assistant head coach at the Hawks. Morris spent five and a half seasons under Quinn until he was promoted to interim. head coach in 2020 after Quinn was fired after a 1-4 start.
Morris led the team to a 4-7 record, which allowed 29th place in allowed yards and 19th place in points.
If he is appointed by the Rams, which makes sense given his long history with Sean McVay, he will take over the number one defense with points and yards allowed in 2020.