The San Francisco 49ers will have a new defensive coordinator, with former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris reportedly taking over the position left vacant by Robert Saleh’s departure.
Morris has worked with head coach Kyle Shanahan in the past and was the Los Angeles Rams‘ defensive coordinator when they won the Super Bowl in 2022. As for the Niners, Morris’ job will be to improve the pass rush, as they recorded only 20 sacks.
Saleh did what he could with the unit after injuries devastated the group. As a result, Morris should have a healthy Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, along with any new additions on defense. Moreover, he will also have Fred Warner ready to go next season too.
Warner spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area and shared his thoughts on his new defensive coordinator.
“That we’re ready to work, man,” Warner said on Feb. 3. “It’s not a bunch of guys who are set in their ways at all. I’m going into year nine, and I’m ready to learn and adapt to whatever he’s giving to us.
“So, we’re all ready to work, we’re all hungry to get back to being dominant and give ourselves a chance to win a Super Bowl.”
Niners’ Defense Is Ready to the Take Next Step
Furthermore, the 49ers’ defense featured young players who needed to step into prominent roles this season. As a result, the injuries were a blessing in disguise for their development. Now, heading into the 2026 season, Warner explained how the entire group can move forward and hopefully have a healthy campaign.
“Ultimately, it’s just demanding excellence of your group every single day,” Warner added. “You can’t let little things slide when it comes to just the details of how to play defense day-to-day. It truly is just demanding the best.
“If you’re a player, you should want the best of yourself to be one of the best in the league at your position. And if everybody’s doing that, everybody’s holding each other accountable… and you do that every single day, you look up and you’re like, ‘OK, man, we did it.’ I think that’s what it is ultimately going to take.”
49ers’ Probable Reason for Raheem Morris Hire
In the end, the Niners chose Morris, a familiar face for Shanahan. The connection and friendship with the former Falcons head coach factored into the decision, at least according to 49ers reporter Grant Cohn of On SI.
“I love this hire,” Cohn said in a Feb. 1 video on X about Morris reportedly becoming the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. “This is great news because Raheem Morris is not Gus Bradley, who would have been a freaking disaster. It seems like the Niners are really considering hiring him. Good thing that we all publicly shamed them into not doing that.
“Would I have liked them to hire Jim Schwartz? It would have been cool. He runs the wide nine, and he’s older than Kyle Shanahan. He’s not his friend. That would have been an interesting dynamic, but that was never going to happen. Kyle likes working with his friends. We all do. Kyle is great friends with Raheem Morris.”
49ers’ Fred Warner Doesn’t Hold Back on Words to Raheem Morris