Rams COO Kevin Demoff Endorses 'Culture Builder' Raheem Morris As Head Coach
As the Los Angeles Rams prepare for their highly-anticipated playoff game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday night, one of their top assistants is getting some good looks in the coaching carousel.
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who has been with the Rams since 2021, has now had four teams (Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers) request interviews with him for their head-coaching vacancies.
Morris previously coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011 and the Falcons on an interim basis in 2020, and now he seems like a strong candidate to lead a team once again.
Raheem Morris
Feb 16, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris holds the Vince Lombardi trophy during Super Bowl LVI championship rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
While the Rams would like to keep Morris, 47, around, they would also be very proud to see him become a head coach once again. Speaking to NFL Network's Peter Schrager, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff gave a passionate endorsement for Morris as coach and a leader.
"He's one of the best leaders and culture builders I've ever been around," Demoff said. "And I was with Raheem in Tampa, but this is the guy who makes your building better. He's the glue guy who brings everybody together, your equipment staff, your training staff, your PR, the building, and the guy can coach."
Some may have concerns over Morris' 21-38 record as a head coach, but throughout the week, Demoff has done everything he can to ease those concerns.
In one post on X, Demoff laid out a list of prominent figures who have said Morris would be a great head coach. That list included Rams coach Sean McVay, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
"Won a Super Bowl as a DC. Has two 3rd rounders leading rookies in sacks," Demoff wrote. "What are we doing here people!"
In other posts, Demoff pointed out how Morris' tenure in Tampa Bay is more impressive than his 17-31 record would indicate. Morris' Buccaneers finished with a 10-6 record in 2010, a mark it would take the franchise a decade and signing the greatest quarterback to ever play to surpass again.
"Took over Tampa team that was at bottom of NFL in spending & won 10 games in 2010," Demoff wrote. "Bucs didn’t have another 10+ win season between 2006 & Tom Brady."
Morris hasn't had the best go of things in his previous stints as a head coach, but according to Demoff, he has more than earned another chance.
