Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris

Press Conference – September 24, 2026

San Francisco 49ers

What did you think of DL Gracen Halton in the game against Miami?

“He played well. He had some good plays, had some rookie plays. You know, there’s always going to be some ups, always going to be some downs, but really excited to see. I think he got a tackle for loss that I can remember, had a nice celebration on. Did some really good things, gave us great energy, great juice inside there. Plays bigger than his actual stature. Did a lot of really cool things. Really excited about where he’s going to go and what he can do for the Niners.”

In general, has that surprised you? Watching the tape at Oklahoma, I think a lot of people didn’t realize he played as well against the run.

“I think I said this before, but his movement was not the surprise. He had great movement and things like that in Oklahoma. His natural ability to move around and kind of stunt and do some things like that. We thought we would get like this guy that can really help out in the pass rush. We knew that right away. But, when he got here, really shocked us with his ability to use his hands and played well in the run game and be able to be stout and do some real cool things there. I forget when we kind of got that revelation. I think it was sometime in camp, we put the pads on for sure, but his ability to go out there and play the run for us is really good as well. We’re excited about that with him going forward.”

Stylistically, when you guys are in four-down, can he play next to DL Osa Odighizuwa? I know you used him a lot in the five-down with DL C.J. West in between them, but where, stylistically, are he and Osa complementary enough or do they have to kind of more rotate?

“He certainly can. You like Osa to be at that three technique. You like him if we’re playing with the four-down front for him to be at that nose tackle. But, he can do both. He can multitask. I think I compared him to [Los Angeles Rams DL] Kobie Turner in the draft when I was talking to you guys last. I’m not sure, but he’s kind of got some of those type of qualities where he can play nose, play three technique, do a couple of different things. Really smart, really sharp young man. Really excited about him.”

What do you think about what you have at nose tackle now with C.J. going down?

“We’ve got to step up. Next-man-up mentality. I’m really excited about some of the guys that we’re able to keep, maybe to get around here and play for us, and then we’ll get out there and we’ll play and get a chance to get those things done. It’s unfortunate what happened to C.J. because he took a step forward this game, just like everybody else did when it comes to that matter. But, really excited about the next guy to go out there and get the opportunity to do it.”

What is it about Osa’s game that you like the most? What’s the most valuable part of his game?

“I think the adult in Osa is number one, first and foremost. How he carries himself, how he leads the room, his ability to go out there and show guys how to prepare, how to practice. Show guys how to prepare to get ready for the game, to make sure his body’s in the right spot, make sure his mind’s in the right spot. He does a lot of really cool things that way when it comes to leadership. Then he’s a natural dog. Love that about him. Love his ability to go out there and play for us and play winning football.”

He’s quiet with us, so is he more vocal with you?

“He’s very quiet just in general. He’s more vocal in his room. He’s more vocal with his guys. He’s more of a, I don’t know, a comforting type of guy. He brings people in. He’s not a real loud guy. He’s not demonstrative in any way, but I really love his natural grown man mentality to lead those guys.”

How do you assess the run defense in general through two games?

“It’s continued to get better every time. I know how you assess it. I love your Instagram stuff. You’re awesome. You know, the first week we give up probably four or five runs that you want back. It might’ve even been a little more in the Rams game. This game, it got cut down to about three. And there’s always different things. You always have some things where you have, one we had a bad alignment. One I thought was a holding. One of the plays that I didn’t like this week was kind of on me. It was third down and long. They caught us in a conversion down. They popped the run. Some of those situations happen, whether it was the 17-yarder, the nine-yarder, the eight-yarder. You know, those things happen, but I did like how fast we played in the runs that we played really well. That’s starting to breed understanding. I think [LB] Fred [Warner] alluded to it earlier, but sometimes I say things in the game, it’s the first time you actually hear it in the game. You’ve got to go out there and execute it when you’re playing tackle football. It’s not always going to be perfect, but I do like the natural development the guys have taken. We went from probably, and I’m guessing, we probably went from about eight runs in that first game that you didn’t like to maybe cut it down to three or four in this game that you just didn’t like. There was always some things you can clean up, but I really like where the guys are going and how the understanding is starting to come together. You did lie about one thing, though. We definitely got down to the eight-man box. You’re so full of it (laughter).”

The play you’re talking about, the third-and-nine where they ran Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane?

“Yeah, they got me.”

You had one defensive tackle. Only Osa was on that.

“Yeah, we were in full-out blitz mode, man. They got me on that one. Full-out blitz mode and they caught us on the draw. Great play, great call by [Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator] Bobby Slowik. Kudos to them. You’ve got to take your hat off sometimes.”

You must have played against WR Brandin Cooks, or game-planned against Brandin Cooks a lot when you were in Atlanta. What are your memories about him and going against him all these years?

“I believe he was with the Saints my first time game planning against him when I was in Tampa as a rookie. He came in as just like a real speed guy, real guy that could take the top off. Then he evolved into this guy that was just ultimately able to be counted on, whether he was a Ram. He’s been a couple different spots and I’ve missed him at a couple different spots, but I’ve heard nothing but great real things about him where he’s been and how he prepares and how he goes about his business. So, really excited that he’s on our football team. Really excited to add a guy like that when you need him. When it’s time like this, when you can come in here and really help you, we’ll see where he goes and what he can do for us. The character and the quality of the guy you know that you love, but we definitely always had the game plan for the top-end speed first. His ability to go out there and execute at a very high level. He was at Houston. I played against him. I think now that you’re thinking about it, I think he’s played everywhere, but really had a real respect for him wherever he’s been.”

He says he still has the speed.

“It looked like it watching him go out there and run. I remember speaking with [former NFL WR] Joey Galloway when he was 97, still playing wideout. I said, ‘What’s the difference between now and when you were younger?’ He just said, ‘It takes longer to get warmed up.’”

We’ve seen over the years a lot of coach-to-player communication. We get some audio from NFL Films, 60 Minutes the other day with offense. We rarely get to hear the defensive communication. What does Fred like? What do you like to give him? What do you try to sprinkle in?

“I think a lot of the communication from defense happens during the week. Then for me, a lot of those things are like tips and reminders. Just reminding him right before the snap. Fred has this amazing recall, first and foremost, almost too good. It’s almost scary to tell him some things because he’ll anticipate and play something that’s really not his at times, which at times everybody’s throwing a pool party in there once in a while, it may go wrong, but you almost want to be careful. Fred doesn’t like a lot in the huddle on game day. He definitely likes more during the week. Our communications happen during the week, during the meetings, text messages at night, whatever the case may be. Game day, we have a couple of things on the sideline that we can talk about when things show up, but when it’s really going down, all the fire’s going down, Fred likes to play. Get him the call. Then by that time he knows exactly what you want, what you’re thinking, what the thought process is. We’ve got a real clear, concise way of communicating what the situation is and what’s happening with those guys. He takes it to a whole new level when you talk about linebacker play.”

DL Nick Bosa doesn’t have a sack yet through two games, but he’s been close a couple of times. It looked like Miami Dolphins QB Malik Willis had to get away from him a couple of times in the Dolphins game. How are the offenses scheming against him and what have you seen from Nick so far?

“He’s been really the most dominant player without a sack. I mean, I have to say he’s been awesome. You know, when he’s rushing the passer, the first play of the game, the first play of the season, was absolutely outstanding. You know, this week checking around Willis and he just forgot how to sack people. But other than that, man, I’ve joked with him this weekend, but other than that, he’s been awesome. We’ll see moving forward all the stuff that happens with him, but he’s been playing great.”

DL Mykel Williams is going to start practicing next week.

“How do you know that? I don’t even know that yet (laughter).”

Head coach Kyle Shanahan that.

“Oh, good.”

I imagine you must have done a lot of research on him coming out of Georgia.

“Yeah, I couldn’t stand him. No, I love that kid, man. He’s amazing. Those Georgia kids that year, whether you’re talking about the safety, talking about the two guys, the guy we took in Atlanta and the guy here, they had a great class. They’re raised the right way, they’re coached the right way. Then he had a really good rookie season here with you guys. Then having a chance to be joining up with him this year was absolutely outstanding, so I can’t wait to get him back on the grass and watch him play. Remember, I haven’t seen him play on the grass yet, so getting him out there would be really special, would be really cool for the team.”

If the Falcons had drafted him, would you have used him at end and inside? Does he have that versatility in your eyes?

“He does. He can play anywhere. He’s kind of that spinner in a different way. He can go inside, outside, do different things like that. I’m not sure if he couldn’t stand up. He can do a lot of different things. He’s really athletic, really talented. And remember he, coming out, had some type of injury. I can’t remember exactly what it was right now, but it kind of slowed him down. We all thought he was slow, and he is not. He can run, he’s big, he’s physical, he’s fast, he can move inside, he can rush the passer. He provides a lot of opportunity and things for us to move forward and get better and better at.”

Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett has been targeting Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride a ton. He’s obviously a great player. What stands out? Why is he such a great player?

“He’s awesome, and he’s also a great guy to be around. He’s very much like our guy. Don’t tell our guy I said that, he’ll beat me up in the lunchroom. But, he’s active. He’s a great pass-receiving catcher. He’s a willing and physical blocker at the point of attack or away from it. He loves football. I was very close to his coaches that he had when he had [former NFL tight ends coach] Ben Steele and some of those guys. Now he’s with these guys that I’ve worked with and done a lot of good things with. He’s a phenomenal player.”

What stands out to you about CB Upton Stout? Is he getting better and better?

“He’s a dog. I mean, just watch the last game. He’s absolutely outstanding. He was all over the place, our player of the game on defense. We took a sack away from him by taking that penalty. Didn’t realize that at the time, but he’s outstanding. He should have had a sack and a half, a bunch of tackles, tackles for loss. He’s all over the place. He’s physical. He’s an absolute dog.”