Which head coaching position would be the best fit for Raheem Morris?
With Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parting ways, the NFL now has eight open head coaching vacancies.
Four of those teams have already requested interviews with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Given his work with the Rams defense this season, Morris is a strong possibility.Morris may finally get his second chance now. Here are the greatest team fits for Morris based on each head coach opening.
1. Washington Commanders
Without a doubt, the Commanders are the ideal fit for Raheem Morris. This franchise is entering a new phase. It’s difficult to comprehend that this may be one of the most appealing positions on the market. They have the second overall pick and will have the opportunity to select Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Marvin Harrison Jr. Dan Snyder supports new ownership that wants to win.
Josh Harris and company will make their first hire, and this is a winning ownership group. They require a coach who can help develop the young players who will be joining the team in the future year or two. Furthermore, they will be searching for someone who can build a strong culture and share their vision for the future. According to The Athletic’s Ben Standig,
“Morris has a strong case if there’s a compelling need to state a big three among the coaching candidates. No coordinator has made more with less this season than the man whose first head-coaching gig came as a 33-year-old with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Aaron Donald is not having his typically outrageous season, and much of the remaining personnel is composed of young players and random parts. Yet the defense has stepped up significantly during the Los Angeles Rams’ current 6-1 stretch over their last seven games that thrust them back into the playoff race. Some people have wondered when Morris, 47, would garner another full-time head-coaching chance. This seems like the year.
Morris is a defensive coach, but he comes from an offensive background and should be able to assemble a solid offensive staff. These characteristics will make him an appealing hire for Washington, which is why he is on their short list. Morris has previously worked in Washington, where he coached defensive backs from 2012 to 2014.
2. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are another team that has requested an interview with Morris. For a variety of reasons, this is a good fit for Morris, but the elephant in the room remains David Tepper. The Panthers may wish to retain coaches such as Ejiro Evero and Thomas Brown. Morris will be familiar with both of these coaches. Under Morris, Evero was the secondary coach in 2021, while Brown was on the Rams offensive staff at the same time.
Morris makes a lot of sense if the Panthers want to keep those two coaches on their staff. Aside from Tepper, the issue here is that the Panthers have the worst record in the NFL and no draft picks. They have some capital, but this may be a total reconstruction. The question is whether Tepper will be patient throughout this time.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Morris could be just what the Falcons need in the locker room. He’s an experienced coach who can unite the team and limit some of the faults. It’s probable that he’ll bring in an offensive staff to capitalize on the talents of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. They are a different team that has asked to interview Morris.
There’s also a backstory. Morris served as the Falcons’ assistant head coach from 2015 to 2019. He was the wide receivers coach and the passing game coordinator. In 2020, he returned as defensive coordinator before taking over as interim head coach when Dan Quinn was dismissed. Morris brings some familiarity, which Arthur Smith may be hoping for as he tries to get the Falcons back on track.
4. Seattle Seahawks
In all likelihood, the Seahawks will choose someone who knows or has worked with Pete Carroll. Dan Quinn or Dave Canales are two possibilities. Quinn appears to be the early favorite, but the Seahawks, like all clubs, will have to go through the process.
If the Seahawks are searching for someone with some of Carroll’s attributes, Morris makes a lot of sense. Carroll was not an attacking genius with a defensive background. The most essential thing was that he was respected by the players and was a man’s leader. Morris also has a defensive experience from multiple coaching trees and has proved to be a men’s leader. Morris will have some youthful defensive talent to work with on the Seahawks. The question will be how he develops his offensive game.
There could be some echoes of Morris’ time in Tampa Bay, where he took over for a famous coach in Jon Gruden. The Seahawks, on the other hand, have a willing ownership group and one of the strongest general managers in the NFL. This appears to be a position that will be filled by someone who is familiar with the Seahawks’ culture.
5. New England Patriots
This appears to be a Mike Vrabel or Jerod Mayo hire to help preserve “The Patriot Way” in New England. Morris may not be the right fit for the Patriots, but he is the type of guy and leader that Robert Kraft would like. At the end of the day, no one wants to be the coach who succeeds Bill Belichick.
It’s difficult to predict what kind of coach Kraft will seek with his next job. Since 2000, he has not had to recruit anyone. Morris is a high-culture man who may be able to bring in an offensive coaching staff to help rebuild the offense while also remaining strong on defense.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders should consider keeping Antonio Pierce, who had his players perform admirably at the end of the season. Mark Davis, in typical Raiders manner, will go for the big hire. Expect the Raiders to make a push at Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh.Morris was mentioned as a possible successor for Josh McDaniels by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, who stated,
“Morris helped the Rams beat Anarumo’s Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, and his resume is even stronger. He posted a 17-31 record in his three-year run as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach from 2009 to 2011, but he has redeemed himself and done more than enough to earn a second chance. The Rams defense has declined since its Super Bowl win, but it remains a solid group despite losing much of its personnel.”
Morris should not necessarily take this stance. Since 2000, the Raiders have had two head coaches stay for more than three years. Jon Gruden was the coach both times. If Davis is seeking for a more seasoned coach with some of Pierce’s traits, Morris could be a good fit. Having said that, the fit is at best slender.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
No club enjoys attempting to emulate the Rams more than the Chargers. They hired Brandon Staley, the Rams’ former defensive coordinator, and have asked to interview Morris. Still, the Chargers may try to make a “splash” hire, which might include Belichick or Harbaugh. Morris’ compatibility with the Chargers was discussed by Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
“Morris took over as Rams DC after the Chargers hired Staley in 2021. He kept the bones of Staley’s defense in place despite not having much experience with the system. The Rams won the Super Bowl in Morris’ first season. He would be able to talk the language of Staley’s defense without being married to it philosophically. That would matter as the Chargers transition.”
This, like the Raiders, may not be an appealing stance. Dean Spanos is not regarded as a competent businessman. The Chargers do have Justin Herbert, but this is a defense that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. Morris could be the ideal match. At the same time, this is a transitional squad with many concerns at the top of the organization.
8. Tennessee Titans
Vrabel, one of the NFL’s best coaches, was fired by the Titans. It’s possible they were seeking for something different as the Titans start a new era. Still, it seems like an unusual choice. The Titans are in an unusual situation at quarterback and are likely in the midst of a multi-year rebuild.
So far, the Titans have asked to interview nine coaches, none of whom are Morris. This does not feel like a good fit for either party.
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