CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will interview for the Carolina Panthers' head coaching vacancy this week, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Morris, who was Tampa Bay's head coach from 2009-2011, has been with the Rams since 2021. He has won two Super Bowls as an assistant, first with Tampa Bay in the 2002-2003 season, and again with the Rams in 2021-2022. Morris is also expected to interview with the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks for head coaching opportunities.
The Rams finished the season 19th in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed. Los Angeles was defeated by Detroit in the wildcard round in a thrilling contest on Sunday Night Football.
Who is Raheem Morris?
Morris played college football at Hofstra University from 1994-1997. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant there. He then moved to Cornell before getting his first opportunity in the NFL as an intern with the New York Jets in 2001.
Morris joined Tampa Bay's staff as a quality control assistant in 2002, helping the team win the only Super Bowl in franchise history. He briefly left the organization before returning as the defensive backs coach in 2007.
He replaced Jon Gruden as the team's head coach in 2009. The Bucs finished his second season with 10 wins, marking one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in league history. He was fired after a 4-12 record in 2011.
Morris was the interim head coach of the Falcons in 2020, compiling a 4-7 record that saw the team finish last in the NFC South. From there, he joined the Los Angeles Rams and helped guide the team to a victory in Super Bowl 56.
Who else is in the running?
It's still early in the process, but the Panthers have completed several virtual interviews. Interim head coach Chris Tabor and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero both interviewed for the job, as did Baltimore assistants Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald.
Other known candidates include Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown hasn't received an interview in Carolina but has been looked at by the Tennessee Titans, who are replacing Mike Vrabel.
NFL rules prohibit in-person interviews for any coaches employed by other teams until Jan. 22. Those coaches can only conduct in-person interviews if their team's season is over, meaning it could be a while for teams interested in hiring Johnson, Monken and Macdonald, who are all coaching this weekend in the divisional playoffs.