Raheem Morris spent three years with Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. Now, as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, he has to help beat his old team and now-rival in the NFC West.
Morris was asked after Thursday's practice how often he finds himself trying to get inside the head of the Rams' head coach, including what McVay is thinking about his offense and what McVay is thinking about Morris' defense. The 49ers coordinator admitted that those mental gymnastics never dissipate.
"That would be every day, coach," Morris said. "That's constantly going through your mind, right? Being a familiar face in that building and kind of knowing what those guys do but knowing they're going to bring their very best every single time they go out
there."
Morris was careful to note that familiarity only goes so far against a staff that continues to evolve.
"They get better and better every single year," he said. "You've got to be able to go out there and plan for some of that type of stuff, along with finding out who's going to make your football team."
For now, that game-planning work is secondary to the more immediate task of building San Francisco's own roster and scheme through training camp. Morris described the process as constant but not something demanding full attention until later in the year.
"You have those moments throughout the course of the summer. You have those moments throughout camp," Morris said, describing how situational reps this time of year are designed with future opponents in mind. "You tie it together, create some similarities to what you can do when you play those people so you can have carryover for you guys to make it simple."
Morris has a keen advantage given his former proximity to the best offense in the NFL last year. He knows Matthew Stafford's intricacies, Puka Nacua's tendencies, Davante Adams' abilities and Kyren Williams' skills. But they also know Morris.
Now, the 49ers coordinator needs to turn his knowledge into strength for a 49ers defense that wasn't very good in 2025 and is still dealing with some injuries. The return of Nick Bosa and the arrival of players like veteran Osa Odighizuwa and rookies Romello Height and Gracen Halton should help, but ultimately it will depend on how Morris can craft a team that can take down the biggest competitors in the division.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers coach says he's always trying to read Rams coach's mind
