Team virtually talks with Rams DC Morris

Former Falcons interim head coach praised by L.A. GM Snead.

Rams defensive FLOWERY BRANCH — coordinator Raheem Morris, who received a heavy endorsement from general manager Les Snead on Friday, was interviewed virtually by the Falcons on Saturday, according to the Falcons.

Morris, 47, is no stranger to the team. He was on Dan Quinn’s staff for five-plus seasons and was the interim head coach for 11 games in 2020.

He has been the Rams defensive coordinator for the past three seasons and helped them win Super Bowl LVI. He is a two-time Super Bowl winner and former head coach with ties to Falcons CEO Rich McKay that go to their time in Tampa Bay.

Before starting his end-of-year news conference Friday, Snead, who spent 11 years with the Falcons, took time to proclaim his support for Morris.

“He’s going to give any organization an edge just how collaborative he is,” Snead said to the Los Angeles writers. “It’s going to be an edge that most teams aren’t going to be able to compete with. I know this, he’ll be able to hire an unbelievable staff.

“Every coach who’s any good, who’s qualified, they’re going to want to work for Raheem. And I’m pretty sure there’ll be a lot of tampering charges because just about every player in the NFL’s going to text him and want to come play for him.”

Morris arguably was Quinn’s top assistant as he served in several roles, including assistant head coach/passing game coordinator (2015, 2017-18), assistant head coach/wide receivers (2016), assistant head coach/wide receivers/secondary (2019) and defensive coordinator.

He went 4-7 as the interim coach after Quinn was fired five games into the season.

Morris spent three seasons (2012-14) as defensive backs coach for Washington. Morris, who played safety at Hofstra, started his career as a defensive intern for the New York Jets in 2001. He spent nine seasons (2002-05, 2007-11) with the Buccaneers, climbing his way up from defensive quality-control coach in 2002 to head coach (2009-11).

He was interviewed for the Falcons job in 2021 when Arthur Smith was named the coach.

Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was also set to interview with the Falcons on Saturday.