Raheem Morris
Encyclopedia
Raheem Morris is the head coach
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
of the National Football League
. He was hired by the Buccaneers as head coach on January 17, 2009 after previous head coach Jon Gruden
was fired after seven seasons.
with a degree in physical education in 1998 after playing safety at Hofstra from 1994 to 1997. That same year he began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Hofstra University, where he was responsible for coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports and handling video breakdown and computer input and analysis. In 1999, he was hired by Cornell University
as their defensive backs coach and special teams assistant. After 1999, he went back to Hofstra to be defensive back coach. Also, in 2001, he spent time as a defensive minority intern with the New York Jets
.
, beating the Oakland Raiders
48–21 in Super Bowl XXXVII
. In 2003, he became a defensive assistant. From 2004 to 2005 he was the assistant defensive backs coach. After 2005 he went to Kansas State to be their defensive coordinator
.
in 2006
, as defensive coordinator under then-head coach Ron Prince
. He helped improve the defense in several statistical categories including total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. He helped the Wildcats upset the #4 Texas Longhorns
during the 2006 season.
, replacing Greg Burns
. After the teams pass defense fell to 19th in 2006, Morris helped the pass defense achieve the league’s top ranking in 2007.
for the Buccaneers for the 2009 season after Monte Kiffin
announced that he would be leaving the team to join his son, Lane Kiffin
, at Tennessee
. Just a month later on January 16, 2009, head coach
Jon Gruden
was fired by the Buccaneers and Morris was named the team's head coach. Morris had also interviewed for head coach with the Denver Broncos
before being hired by Tampa Bay.
After starting the season 0–7, Morris earned his first victory as a head coach in week 9 against the Green Bay Packers
. On November 24, 2009 Morris took over as the defensive coordinator after relieving Jim Bates of his duties. He finished his first year as the head coach, leading the team to last in the NFC South
with a 3–13 record. In his second season, the team finished 10-6, barely missing the playoffs. That seven game turnaround was the best in franchise history.
In 2010, Morris became the first coach since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to start at least 10 rookies and finish with a winning record.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was hired by the Buccaneers as head coach on January 17, 2009 after previous head coach Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
was fired after seven seasons.
Early years
Morris graduated from Hofstra UniversityHofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
with a degree in physical education in 1998 after playing safety at Hofstra from 1994 to 1997. That same year he began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Hofstra University, where he was responsible for coaching the offensive scout team, developing scouting reports and handling video breakdown and computer input and analysis. In 1999, he was hired by Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
as their defensive backs coach and special teams assistant. After 1999, he went back to Hofstra to be defensive back coach. Also, in 2001, he spent time as a defensive minority intern with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
First stint with Buccaneers
Before the 2002 season, Morris was hired by the Buccaneers to become their defensive quality control coach, where he helped them have the top-ranked defense and win the franchise’s first ever Super BowlSuper Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
, beating the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
48–21 in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
. In 2003, he became a defensive assistant. From 2004 to 2005 he was the assistant defensive backs coach. After 2005 he went to Kansas State to be their defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
.
Kansas State
Morris spent one season with the Kansas State WildcatsKansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
in 2006
2006 Kansas State Wildcats football team
The 2006 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the college football season of 2006. The team's head football coach was Ron Prince. 2006 was the first year for Prince who came to K-State from Virginia as their offensive coordinator...
, as defensive coordinator under then-head coach Ron Prince
Ron Prince
Ron Prince is an American football coach who currently is the assistant offensive line coach with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. From 2006 through 2008, Prince was the head football coach at Kansas State University. He was one of six African-American head coaches in the NCAA Division I-Bowl...
. He helped improve the defense in several statistical categories including total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. He helped the Wildcats upset the #4 Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
during the 2006 season.
Second stint with Buccaneers
Before the 2007 season, Morris returned to the Buccaneers to be their defensive backs coachDefensive backs coach
A defensive backs coach or secondary coach is a coach in charge of the safeties and cornerbacks in gridiron football. This position is very common in the CFL, NFL and college football programs. Some common titles are: safeties coach, cornerbacks coach, secondary coach, secondary/safeties coach,...
, replacing Greg Burns
Greg Burns (coach)
Greg Burns is a defensive backs coach for the Kansas State University Wildcats since 2007.-Coaching career:...
. After the teams pass defense fell to 19th in 2006, Morris helped the pass defense achieve the league’s top ranking in 2007.
Head coach
In December 2008, it was announced that Morris would take over as defensive coordinatorDefensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Buccaneers for the 2009 season after Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin
Monte Kiffin is an American football coach. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history...
announced that he would be leaving the team to join his son, Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
, at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. Just a month later on January 16, 2009, head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
was fired by the Buccaneers and Morris was named the team's head coach. Morris had also interviewed for head coach with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
before being hired by Tampa Bay.
After starting the season 0–7, Morris earned his first victory as a head coach in week 9 against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. On November 24, 2009 Morris took over as the defensive coordinator after relieving Jim Bates of his duties. He finished his first year as the head coach, leading the team to last in the NFC South
NFC South
The NFC South is a division in the National Football Conference of the National Football League. It was created prior to the 2002 NFL season, when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams. The NFC South currently has four members: the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New...
with a 3–13 record. In his second season, the team finished 10-6, barely missing the playoffs. That seven game turnaround was the best in franchise history.
In 2010, Morris became the first coach since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to start at least 10 rookies and finish with a winning record.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | TB 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 34th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers looked to improve on their 9–7 record from their 2008 season and 3rd place finish in the NFC South but failed to do so as they finished the season at 3–13, missing the playoffs for the... |
2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 4th in NFC South | - | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 35th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games... |
2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3rd in NFC South | - | - | - | - | ||
| TB 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season will be the club's 36th season as a franchise in the NFL. The team will compete in the NFC South. Both of their preseason home games, and seven of their regular season home games will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida... |
2011 2011 NFL season The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on... |
4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | NFC South | - | - | - | - | ||
| TB Total | 17 | 25 | 0 | – | – | – | – | |||||
| Total | 17 | 25 | 0 | – | – | – | – | |||||