The San Francisco 49ers have developed an unfortunate pattern at defensive coordinator over the past several seasons: success leads to high-profile departures and replacements struggle to stick. DeMeco Ryans and Robert Saleh have been success stories, with the former helping the organization reach the NFC Championship Game in both 2021 and 2022 before departing to become head coach of the Houston Texans and the latter returning for a second stint in 2025 before leaving for a second time to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen weren’t quite as successful, with both being fired after just one season — the former was fired once again at his next stop with the New York Jets and the latter has taken on less responsibility as special teams coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s an interesting pattern, with the extreme highs and lows being representative of just how combustible (leave your electric substation jokes to yourself) circumstances are surrounding head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch. If only there were someone who could conceivably keep some continuity within a defensive system that produced some of the best units in the league under Saleh and Ryans and wouldn’t be an obvious candidate to leave for head coaching roles once they open back up in January and February. Age: 492024-2025: Atlanta Falcons (Head Coach)2021-2023: Los Angeles Rams (Defensive Coordinator)2015-2020: Atlanta Falcons (Interim Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Assistant)2012-2014: Washington Commanders (Defensive Backs Coach)2007-2011: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Head Coach/Defensive Assistant) Morris isn't just another defensive coordinator looking to advance his career — he’s someone ready to find some stability after being fired from his last two head coaching opportunities with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.
If you were to pinpoint the exact kind of candidate for this job, it’s the guy who thrived as an assistant coach on his way to winning Super Bowls XXXVII and LVI, has worked on both sides of the football during runs to the NFC Championship, and has history with both Shanahan and Lynch. I’d never go as far as to say Morris already understands everything that goes into the decision-making process of Shanahan, but working alongside him closely certainly should help him get pretty close! It’s the same thing everyone said when he joined forces with a former colleague in Sean McVay and called defensive signals for the Los Angeles Rams, which ended with one of those aforementioned rings.
The 49ers have plenty of talent (when healthy) to work with, too! Nick Bosa remains one of the league’s premier pass-rushers, Fred Warner is the very best linebacker in football, Osa Odighizuwa and Alfred Collins are expected to help the interior defensive line take a step forward, and Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown is the league’s most underrated safety tandem. Morris is in a dream position for a former head coach — he gets to do what he does best, alongside talented people, in one of the most exciting divisions in the sport.
If he follows in his own footsteps from his last defensive coordinator gig, he and the team will be in great shape. If he follows in the footsteps of those who came before him, it’s a tossup.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
