Who Is Raheem Morris? Wife, Children, Age, Height, Weight, Net Worth, Family, and more
Raheem Morris is a name that resonates with football fans across the nation. He is the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, one of the most successful teams in the NFL. He has a wealth of experience and expertise in coaching, having served as a head coach, interim head coach, and assistant coach for various teams over the years. He is also a two-time Super Bowl champion, having won the coveted trophy with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. But who is Raheem Morris behind the scenes? What is his personal life like? How did he rise to the top of his profession?
Raheem Morris Wiki/Bio
| Name | Raheem Morris |
|---|---|
| Birth date | September 3, 1976 |
| Birth place | Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christian |
| Education | Hofstra University (B.S. in Physical Education, 1998) |
| Occupation | Football coach |
| Current team | Los Angeles Rams |
| Current position | Defensive coordinator |
| Previous teams | Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas State Wildcats, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons |
| Previous positions | Head coach, interim head coach, defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach, assistant head coach, pass game coordinator, wide receivers coach |
| Career highlights | 2× Super Bowl champion (XXXVII, LVI), NFL Coach of the Year finalist (2010) |
| Spouse | Nicole Morris |
| Link | Instagram- #raheemmorris Homepage- Newsunzip |
Parents, Birthdate, Siblings, Education
Raheem Morris was born on September 3, 1976 (age: 47 years, as of 2023), in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in Irvington, a town in Essex County, where he attended Irvington High School. He was a standout athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was also a good student, who valued academics and was tutored by his mother, Valerie Morris, a teacher. His father, Kenny Vaughn, was a truck driver and a football fan, who encouraged his son to pursue his passion for the sport.
Morris graduated from high school in 1994 and enrolled at Hofstra University, a private institution in Hempstead, New York. He majored in physical education and played safety for the Hofstra Pride football team from 1994 to 1997. He was a four-year starter and a team captain, earning All-Atlantic 10 honors as a senior. He also excelled in the classroom, earning a degree in 1998.
Net Worth
| Year | Net worth |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $16 million |
| 2020 | $18 million |
| 2021 | $20 million |
Raheem Morris named new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have announced that they have hired Raheem Morris as their new head coach, ending their search that included interviewing six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
Morris, 47, is the former defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams, who led the league’s best defense in 2020 and helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2022. He has previous head coaching experience with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he went 17-31 from 2009 to 2011, and the Falcons, where he served as the interim head coach for the final 11 games of the 2020 season, posting a 4-7 record.
Morris becomes the first permanent African-American head coach in Falcons history and will work alongside general manager Terry Fontenot, who is also Black. He will inherit a team that has not had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2017 and faces a major roster overhaul.
The Falcons interviewed 14 candidates for the head coaching vacancy, including Belichick, who agreed to part ways with the New England Patriots earlier this month after more than two decades of unprecedented success. Belichick reportedly had two interviews with the Falcons, but the team ultimately decided to go with Morris, who impressed them with his vision, leadership, and adaptability.
The Falcons will introduce Morris as their new head coach at a press conference on 26th January, 2024.
Coaching Career
Raheem Morris began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Hofstra in 1998, where he was responsible for coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports, and handling video breakdown and computer analysis. He then moved to Cornell University in 1999, where he served as the defensive backs coach and special teams assistant. He returned to Hofstra in 2000, where he coached the defensive backs for two seasons. He also spent some time in 2001 as a defensive minority intern with the New York Jets, gaining valuable experience in the NFL.
In 2002, Morris was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their defensive quality control coach, working under head coach Jon Gruden. He helped the Buccaneers have the top-ranked defense in the league and win their first ever Super Bowl, beating the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII. He was promoted to defensive assistant in 2003 and assistant defensive backs coach in 2004. He worked closely with legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and mentored some of the best players in the league, such as Ronde Barber, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks.
In 2006, he left the Buccaneers to join Kansas State University as their defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Bob Stoops. He led the Wildcats to a 7-6 record and a berth in the Texas Bowl, where they lost to Rutgers 37-10. He also helped develop future NFL stars, such as Josh Freeman, Jordy Nelson, and Yamon Figurs.
Morris returned to the Buccaneers in 2007, where he resumed his role as the defensive backs coach. He helped the Buccaneers improve their pass defense, ranking first in the league in interceptions (22) and second in passing yards allowed (170.5 per game) in 2007. He also coached the Pro Bowl duo of Barber and Lynch, as well as emerging talents like Aqib Talib and Tanard Jackson. He continued his success in 2008, leading the Buccaneers to rank fourth in the league in pass defense (178.2 yards per game) and ninth in interceptions (19).
In 2009, he was named the head coach of the Buccaneers, replacing the fired Gruden. He became the youngest head coach in the NFL at the age of 32. He inherited a team that was in rebuilding mode, having lost several veteran players and coaches. He faced a tough challenge in his first season, going 3-13 and finishing last in the NFC South. However, he showed signs of improvement in his second season, leading the Buccaneers to a 10-6 record and narrowly missing the playoffs. He was praised for his leadership and his ability to develop young players, such as Freeman, Mike Williams, LeGarrette Blount, and Gerald McCoy. He was also a finalist for the NFL Coach of the Year award, which went to Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots.
Raheem Morris’ third season as the head coach of the Buccaneers was a disappointment, as the team regressed to a 4-12 record and lost their last 10 games. He faced criticism for his lack of discipline and accountability, as well as his defensive scheme, which ranked last in the league in points allowed (30.9 per game) and yards allowed (394.4 per game). He was fired on January 2, 2012, after three seasons with a 17-31 record.
He did not stay out of work for long, as he was hired by the Washington Redskins as their defensive backs coach on January 11, 2012. He worked under head coach Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, coaching a secondary that featured DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson, and Madieu Williams. He helped the Redskins win the NFC East title in 2012, with a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance, where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks 24-14 in the wild card round. He stayed with the Redskins for three seasons, until Shanahan and his staff were fired after a 4-12 campaign in 2014.
Morris joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, where he reunited with his former colleague and friend, Dan Quinn, who was hired as the head coach. He was initially hired as the assistant head coach and pass game coordinator, working with both the offense and the defense. He later added wide receivers coach to his duties, coaching a talented group that included Julio Jones, Roddy White, and Mohamed Sanu. He helped the Falcons reach the Super Bowl in 2016, where they lost to the Patriots 34-28 in overtime, after blowing a 28-3 lead. He also helped the Falcons make the playoffs again in 2017, where they beat the Rams 26-13 in the wild card round, before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 15-10 in the divisional round.
In 2020, he was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Marquand Manuel. He was tasked with improving a defense that ranked 23rd in the league in points allowed (26.4 per game) and 28th in yards allowed (384.5 per game) in 2019. He also retained his assistant head coach title, making him the second-in-command behind Quinn. However, after the Falcons started the 2020 season with an 0-5 record, Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff were fired on October 11, 2020. Morris was named the interim head coach, becoming the first African-American head coach in Falcons history. He led the Falcons to a 4-7 record in his 11 games as the interim head coach, showing some improvement on both sides of the ball. He was interviewed for the permanent head coach position, but the Falcons ultimately hired Arthur Smith, the former offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, on January 15, 2021.
Raheem Morris did not have to wait long to find a new job, as he was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as their defensive coordinator on January 21, 2021. He replaced Brandon Staley, who left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He joined the staff of Sean McVay, the former offensive coordinator of the Redskins, who worked with Morris from 2012 to 2014. He inherited a defense that ranked first in the league in points allowed (18.5 per game) and yards allowed (281.9 per game) in 2020, led by stars like Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Leonard Floyd.
He helped the Rams win the NFC West title in 2021, with a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance, where they beat the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in the wild card round, before losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27 in the divisional round. He also helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in 2022, beating the Buffalo Bills 31-28 in a thrilling game, where Donald was named the MVP after recording three sacks and a forced fumble. Morris was praised for his defensive game plan, which limited the Bills’ potent offense to 314 yards and forced two turnovers.
Spouse
Raheem Morris is married to Nicole Morris (Nikki Morris), whom he met while coaching at Hofstra. They tied the knot in 2006 and have one daughter, Melody Rose, who was born in 2009. They live in Los Angeles, California, where they enjoy spending time with their family and friends.
Nicole Morris is a supportive and loving wife, who often attends her husband’s games and cheers him on. She is also a successful professional, who works as a senior director of marketing and communications for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national organization that provides after-school programs for children and teens.
Height, Weight
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
- Eye color: Brown
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Black
- Hair color: Black
Raheem Morris is a man of many talents and achievements, but he is also humble and grateful for his opportunities. He is a respected and admired coach, who has a passion for the game and a vision for success. He is also a devoted and caring husband and father, who values his family and his faith. He is a role model and an inspiration for many, especially for young African-American men who aspire to follow his footsteps.
