Rams Coach Sean McVay Shares Funny Story About Atlanta Falcons New Hire Raheem Morris
When the Atlanta Falcons hired Raheem Morris to be their head coach, the Los Angeles Rams lost more than a defensive coordinator. They lost one of the most well-respected coaches in the sport and a veteran teacher on both sides of the ball.
It’s no surprise former players went out of their way to praise the hire and that Rams head coach Sean McVay was ardent about Morris’ ability to be a head coach.
Before reuniting in Los Angeles in 2021, McVay and Morris were in Washington, part of a coaching staff stocked to the brim with future NFL head coaches. Somehow, they went just 3-13 in 2013. When Morris left for the Falcons after the 2014 season, his promotion wasn’t just a step up the ladder.
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Morris had been a coach on the defensive side of the ball for his entire career, save for when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made him the head coach from 2009 to 2011. He was the defensive backs coach on those Washington teams. In moving to Atlanta, he became the assistant head coach and pass-game coordinator. A year later, he would add wide receivers coach to his name.
On Flying Coach with Sean McVay and Peter Schrager, McVay told the story of Morris’ somewhat surprising move.
“When Raheem, he’s going through the assistant head coach and [Falcons head coach] Dan Quinn relies on him so heavily,” McVay said. “So he says, ‘Hey, Raheem, we’d like for you – you’ve done such a great job, what would you think about coaching the receivers?’”
Morris was, to an extent, surprised himself.
“So what do you think about that?” Morris asked McVay.
“You’re a great coach, you know the game,” McVay said. “But you’ve never coached receivers. How the hell is that gonna work?”
The Falcons, of course, had legendary receiver Julio Jones in his prime. It’s safe to say Jones probably played a role in Morris’ decision.
“It’s easy,” Morris replied. “Good job, Julio!”
Jones would go on to be an All-Pro in every season under Morris’ tutelage.
Back in the head coach’s seat, Morris has more than a decade of coaching experience since his last full-time gig as the lead man. With Super Bowl pedigree and the words of football’s best minds frequently behind him, he’s well-equipped to usher in the next era of Falcons football.
