When the NFL’s latest coaching hiring cycle came around, it was inevitable that Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay was going to lose someone valuable on his staff.
The Minnesota Vikings had two cracks to hire someone from McVay’s staff as they interviewed both offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. In the end, they went with O’Connell because they believed he could revitalize their stagnant offense, meaning Morris would remain in the same role with the Rams for the 2022 season.
With Morris back, the Rams defense figures to once again be one of the best units in the league and while McVay is grateful to have him back, he believes he should be heading his own team, via Greg Beacham of the Associated Press:
Sean McVay is thrilled DC Raheem Morris is still on the Rams' staff for 2022, and yet: "it's a reflection of how far we have to go, because he's one of the best coaches in the world, and the fact that he isn't a head coach is a crime." pic.twitter.com/0IYuVedOB9
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) April 19, 2022
Morris had struggled the last time he was a head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but after a successful stint as the interim for the Atlanta Falcons and now in Los Angeles, Morris is primed for another shot. Morris may have come into the year building off of previous defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system, but he added his own schematic tweaks and kept the defense rolling all the way through the Super Bowl.
Should Los Angeles make another postseason run, Morris will be a popular candidate in the next hiring cycle. Fortunately for McVay and the Rams, he will be on hand to spearhead a defense featuring Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Bobby Wagner which bodes well for their chances to repeat as champions.
