Raheem Morris revenge game couldnt come at a better time for 49ers

Is there such a thing as firer’s remorse?While Raheem Morris game-plans for Bijan Robinson and the Falcons this week as the 49ers’ hot-shot defensive coordinator, Atlanta has to be wondering if it’s any better off a little more than nine months after showing him the door, sitting at 2-4 under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.The Falcons finished 8-9 and missed the postseason in both seasons Morris was at the helm.But they haven’t started a season this poorly since 2020, and while Morris has elevated San Francisco’s defense to new heights, Atlanta’s has taken a step back under Jeff Ulbrich.At least as far as Morris and the 49ers are concerned, there’s no hard feelings.When Atlanta moved on from Morris after last season, it finally gave Kyle Shanahan the chance to make the hire he originally wanted in 2017, only to be denied permission by the Falcons.A decade and four other coordinators later, Morris just might be the final coach to find a seat in the 49ers’ game of musical chairs to fill the position leading their defense.

The early returns on his facelift of the unit have been so positive it’s no doubt the Niners want to keep him around.As long as it’s up to Shanahan, “I see Raheem here for as long as I’m here,” he said last week.But here’s the thing: A good coordinator only stays an assistant for so long.Shanahan would have also loved to hang on to Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans, but both parlayed the job into promotions (twice in Saleh’s case).

Morris made the same jump after leading the Rams’ defense on their run to the Super Bowl when the Falcons came calling about their head-coaching gig.“Raheem’s so good of a coach, you’ve always got to be nervous you’ll lose him as a head coach,” Shanahan said.“But, if that doesn’t happen I don’t plan on him ever leaving.”There’s reason to believe Morris is interested in sticking around for the long haul.While the 49ers cycled through all their other defensive coordinators, ...