After nearly a decade of waiting, Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris are finally reunited in San Francisco. The 49ers' head coach had his sights set on bringing Morris aboard as an assistant back in 2017 when he first took the helm, but the Atlanta Falcons blocked the move. Now, the longtime friends and former colleagues are back together, with Morris taking over as defensive coordinator following Robert Saleh's departure to Tennessee.
"Kyle was someone that you love working with, love working for," Morris said Thursday during his first press conference since being hired in February. "Kyle's definitely one of those people you always want to work with. From our time in Tampa, when we were both young puppies, to our time in D.C. with his father, being around the Shanahan family and the tradition and culture they build really molded me throughout my career."
The reunion has been a long time coming. Morris and Shanahan's bond dates back to 2004, when Shanahan landed his first NFL job as an assistant in Tampa Bay, working alongside Morris—then an assistant defensive backs coach on Jon Gruden's staff. They later crossed paths again in Washington, on the staff of Kyle's father, Mike, and in Atlanta.
Morris had another chance to join the 49ers in 2021 after his first stint in Atlanta ended, but San Francisco promoted DeMeco Ryans to defensive coordinator instead. Morris headed to the Los Angeles Rams, where he helped lead the defense to a Super Bowl victory in his first season—a performance that landed him a head coaching job with the Falcons in 2024. After Atlanta fired him this past season, Shanahan made him the top choice to replace Saleh, and the pieces finally fell into place.
Morris' ties to the 49ers run deeper than just Shanahan. His NFL journey began in 2002 as a defensive quality control coach in Tampa Bay, where he learned from some of the game's brightest minds. Now, he brings that wealth of experience—including a Super Bowl ring as a coordinator—to a San Francisco defense eager to return to championship form. For a team that's been knocking on the door, this reunion might be the missing piece. And for fans who love seeing familiar faces in new places, it's a storyline worth watching this season.