Morris previously spent two seasons as the Falcons’ head coach, finishing with a 16-18 record and no playoff appearances. The 2025 season marked Atlanta’s eighth straight year without a postseason berth, a factor that contributed to Morris and the club parting ways.
In the wake of Morris’ departure, the Falcons overhauled their leadership: Kevin Stefanski was hired as head coach, Tommy Rees was brought in to call plays, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich received a three-year contract extension, and Ian Cunningham was named general manager as part of a broader front-office reshaping.
Morris and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan are longtime friends from prior coaching stops—Tampa Bay, Washington, and Atlanta—an affiliation that helped accelerate the decision to bring Morris to San Francisco.
Prior to earning the Falcons job, Morris was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching vacancy, a position that ultimately went to former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
This hire continues the 49ers’ pattern of waiting out the coaching carousel, a trend the team also followed last year while pursuing Saleh amid interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders.
