Raheem Morris makes his return to Atlanta on Sunday as defensive coordinator of an undefeated San Francisco 49ers team, bringing a 6-0 record into a matchup against the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Michael Penix.
Defensive Coordination Against a Familiar Face
Morris joins the 49ers defense after serving as head coach of the Falcons for two seasons, where he compiled a 16-18 record. He was part of the Atlanta front office that selected Penix eighth overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot were dismissed by the franchise on Jan. 5 following an 8-9 campaign, marking the eighth losing season for the club.
San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan noted the emotional weight of the reunion for his defensive coordinator. “The guys will be motivated at maximum to win for Morris,” Shanahan said, noting that while that extra drive exists every week, the team holds Morris in high regard.
For the 49ers, the defensive unit prepares to face a Falcons offense currently sitting at 2-4 and looking to rebound from a 31-23 loss to the Chicago Bears. In that contest, Chicago jumped out to a 14-0 lead before Atlanta recorded its first first down, and Penix absorbed five sacks while losing two fumbles.
Offensive Adjustments for the Falcons
“It’s going to be exciting,” Penix said of the upcoming meeting. “I can’t wait to see Raheem, but for sure we need to find a way to score against him.”
The third-year quarterback has taken nine sacks across four matches.
“We are going to have to impose ourselves on first and second downs,” Penix said. “We are going to have to pay attention to the small details, to get ourselves back on the right track.”
Team Production Entering Sunday
Both squads feature key playmakers leading significant statistical categories for their respective units. For San Francisco, tight end George Kittle ranks third in the league with five touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson stands second across the NFL with 641 rushing yards, providing the focal point for an offense attempting to break through against Morris’s defensive schemes.
