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The year was 1995. Raheem Morris was a starting safety helping direct the defense of the then-Hofstra Flying Dutchmen.
Fast forward to 2022, and Morris will yet again be calling out defensive plays, this time as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
This marks Morris’ third Super Bowl. He was a defensive quality control coach for the Buccaneers in 2003, when Tampa Bay defeated the then-Oakland Raiders.
In 2017, Morris was an assistant coach/wide receivers coach for Atlanta in the 2017 Super Bowl against the Patriots, who won that Super Bowl in historic fashion after overcoming a 25-point deficit.
Morris began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Hofstra in 1998, where he was responsible for coaching the offensive scout team in practice, developing scouting reports and handling video breakdown and computer input and analysis. The Newark, New Jersey, native then landed at Cornell University as defensive backs coach and special teams assistant for the 1999 season.
In the NFL, he has spent time with Tampa Bay, Washington and Atlanta, holding such roles as defensive quality control coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Morris was the Buccaneers’ head coach from 2009-2011, his only stint as a full-time head coach. In 2020, he served as interim head coach of Atlanta for 11 games.
Morris recently interviewed for the vacant Minnesota Vikings head coach position, and although he didn’t get it, he has some pretty strong support from his players.
“Rah the best coach I’ve ever had & I’ve had some GREAT ones” tweeted Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. “If no other team wants to give him the head coaching position he DESERVES, I will personally GLADLY have him back as our DC.”
First things first though, the big game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Top photo: Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris walks the sideline against San Francisco 49ers during the NFL NFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022 in Inglewood, Calif. The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
