Vikings Request To Interview Rams Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris
Coming on the heels of the Rams' 34-11 victory over the Cardinals in the NFC Wild Card Monday, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is garnering interest on the head coaching market.
The Vikings have requested to interview the 45-year-old, per NFL Network's Peter Schrager. Morris is the 10th candidate for the Vikings' head coaching vacancy, joining a list that includes Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.
Morris has been an NFL head coach before, with the Buccaneers from 2009-11. That was a much younger Morris and a position where he was dealt a bad hand. Morris succeeded Jon Gruden, who was fired after the 2008 season, and took over a young roster led by rookie quarterback Josh Freeman.
The Buccaneers ascended to a 10-6 team in Morris' second season in 2010, just missing out on the playoffs. Tampa Bay started 4-2 in 2011, but lost its last 10 games of the season and Morris was canned.
He's built his resume back up since then, notably serving on the Falcons' coaching staff from 2015-20. Morris was promoted to defensive coordinator and later interim head coach for the last 11 games of the 2020 season. The Falcons went 4-7, and Morris earned a new opportunity in the offseason.
Rams head coach Sean McVay hired Morris to be the team's defensive coordinator, replacing Brandon Staley, who became the Chargers' head coach. The Rams finished the season 17th in total defense.
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