A Look Back on Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris' Time With The Rams

The Los Angeles Rams will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator, following the loss of Raheem Morris to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Los Angeles Rams are saying farewell to their defensive coordinator, with Raheem Morris now set to be hired as the Atlanta Falcons' new head coach. 

Over the last three seasons, Morris led the Rams defense contributing to the team's Super Bowl victory in their home stadium in the 2021 season. 

In 2021, the Rams boasted one of the NFL's top run defenses, giving up just 103 yards per game, and ranked in the top half of the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of just 21.9 points. 

The unit also ranked ranked in the top 10 in takeaways in 2021 with 25, including 19 interceptions, which ranked third in the NFL.

Despite a rough season overall in 2022, Morris orchestrated a solid Rams defense. The unit claimed the top spot in opponent red zone efficiency (44.4 percent) and secured second place in goal-to-go efficiency (53.3 percent). 

Notably, they stood out as the third-best team in preventing missed tackles on rush attempts (51) and boasted the fourth-fewest overall missed tackles (103). The defense also ranked top-10 in the NFL in interceptions for the second consecutive season.

Despite considerable changes to the roster, the team defied expectations in 2023 by making a successful return to the playoffs in the Wild Card round, only to fall short against the Lions.

In the 2023 season, Morris led the Rams' youthful defense to finish No. 20 in yards allowed per game (337.9 yards per game) and No. 19 in points allowed per game (22.2 ppg), helping the team achieve a 10-7 record and secure a spot in the playoffs. 

Star cornerback Jalen Ramsey shared his reaction to the news on social media, stating, "Falcons got one of, if not the best coach in the NFL for real!"

Falcons to Hire Rams Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris As Head Coach

During the Rams' end-of-season press conference, General Manager Les Snead spoke highly of Morris, praising him as a "highly intelligent individual."

Snead also expressed confidence in Morris's ability to build an outstanding coaching staff, anticipating a strong desire from qualified coaches to collaborate with him. The Rams general manager also playfully alluded to potential tampering charges, expecting numerous NFL players to express interest in joining Morris's team.

The move to Atlanta marks Morris' second tenure as a full-time NFL head coach. He previously held the coaching position in Tampa Bay, where he accumulated a record of 17-31 over three seasons from 2009 to 2011.

He also served as the interim head coach of the Falcons in 2020.