Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris Press Conference

Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris

Press Conference – October 1, 2026

San Francisco 49ers

Arizona Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett got you guys a little bit on the keeper game last week. What challenge does that keeper game represent this week with Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix?

“It was a little bit of a combination of it all. It’s the keeper game and the situation that it was in. I think most of them were short yardage or goal line, red zone type areas. We got to be better. You got to soften your eyes up and do some of those things. Obviously, we got another challenge this week coming in with a guy that runs keepers. Traditionally, the head coach, traditionally, a new guy’s calling it, but that’s what they do. So, that is something that we got to do this week and definitely clean up and do some different situations. Obviously, last week being short yardage and goal, running a bunch of sneaks, being able to pop some of those things. That was a great job. Hats off to those guys, and we got to do a better job.”

What makes Bo Nix a challenge and what’s the key to defending him?

“Obviously, Bo Nix can make all types of plays. He can throw all the throws. He can move all around the field. Last year he came in as a rookie and really showed competitive greatness. His ability to come back and do all the different things that he’s done in a bunch of different games really shows it. I have a pretty good relationship with Bo. Obviously, he was part of that quarterback class that we all worked out and did some different things when we went and got [Atlanta Falcons QB] Michael Penix [Jr.]. I got a chance to see him live in person, the personality, the guy he is. I got a lot of respect for Bo.”

How did you evaluate the many new pieces on the defensive line that you had in for last week’s game?

“They went out there and held up pretty good. There’s a bunch of different guys out there. Obviously, [DL Viliami Fehoko Jr.] Junior being fresh, being one of the guys that had a chance to go play for us. Obviously, [DL] Gracen Halton coming back, really feeling like an older guy right now, but he was out there doing his thing. Obviously, all of our guys went out there and competed at a very high level, got us a win. There’s always things you can do to clean up, but there’s nothing better than cleaning up things when you get a win.”

You’ve been with DL Khalid Kareem before. What do you like about him? It seems like he’s a guy who never stops.

“You just named it. The effort, the mentality, the physicality, the fight. Went out there and just throwing his body in for his team. He’s our kind of guy. He’s the kind of guy that you want to be around all the time.”

Career-high 13 tackles for CB Renardo Green this past week. What have you seen? He’s talked about the step that he felt he took as far as training and getting better, mindfulness coming into this season, but what have you seen from him back there on the field?

“First of all, I got to start off about the game. That was a game that was very challenging for our corners. They did a nice job of running duo, crunch, punch, whatever you want to call those runs to get to the corners. They got out there and those guys stepped up and made all of the tackles. Some of the ones you love, some of the ones you like, but when you go back and watch the tape and you realize if you miss one of those, those become explosive. To get out of that game, and I don’t believe there was a rushing explosive. I think it was four explosives altogether. But to watch those two corners, both Renardo and [DB Deommodore Lenoir] DMo tackle, and then when [CB Jack Jones] Jack-Jack got in, tackle, that was very impressive. But to talk about the development and how they’ve changed, they’ve gone from guys who, I guess, everybody had questions about, to guys you count on. I was just talking to those guys today, man. They drive the bus. Everywhere I’ve been, defensive backs have the ability to drive the bus. You’re always going to have your leaders, your [LB] Fred’s [Warner], your [LB Dre] Greenlaw’s, your [DL Nick] Bosa’s, those type of people. But when you have the DBs, when things get too low and stuff starts to happen, they better be driving the bus for you to make this thing work and do the things that you want to do.”

You have so many new guys on your defensive line, including some guys who are getting their first ever NFL snaps on Sunday. Can you do as much as you want to do as far as blitz packages and stunts and complex things along the defensive line?

“The search for perfection in the imperfect game. You do it out there on the grass, right? It’s the stuff that we practice, the stuff that we can go out there and execute. You get a chance to watch practice, you get a chance to watch these guys, what they can do. We talked about it from the very beginning. What’s the defense going to look like? What’s the Niners going to look like? I’m going to do what the guys can do. So, we go out, we practice it, we put them through it, give them a chance to get some reps at it. And the things that they can do out in the practice field is what we want to go and execute. So, I feel very confident by the time we get to Sunday’s with the guys that we got doing it. We got great D-Line coaches. [Defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek is obviously one of the best in the business, not even close, but you got to talk about his assistant as well, [defensive quality control coach] Cam Brown. You got to talk about [assistant defensive line coach] Greg Scruggs and what they’re able to do for us and the stuff that they bring to the table with the amount of guys that we got in there coaching those guys. You feel really good about whoever you put out there at whatever time. It’s not always going to be perfect, but certainly going to be the effort and the standard of the 49ers.”

I know it’s early, but how has DL Matthew Judon looked?

“Obviously, first padded practice for him today. Been with him before. Looks like he looked at really good times, really good moments for us in Atlanta with his ability to play strong. He’s a smart guy. Obviously, he’s on the practice squad right now and we’ll see what happens. We got another day of practice and we got another walkthrough and go play a football game and we’re going to put the best guys out there to give us the best chance to win.”

As a veteran that hasn’t been playing for the last three weeks, is it easier for you to plug him in?

“Probably a little easier just because of the commonality that we have with each other. Some of the stuff that you can carry over that we were able to do before. This is like some of those type of things, so a little bit easier with him. I wouldn’t say with everybody, but definitely with him.”

Guys had to have been gassed playing about 87 snaps. How do they bounce back? How have you seen them this week in terms of getting their legs back under them?

“I think our head coach did a great job of planning this week. [Head of sports medicine and head athletic trainer] Dustin Little, both Dustins [Dustin Little and vice president of plater health and performance Dustin Perry] did a nice job of putting together a plan for us to bounce back this week in order for us to be able to go practice and play the right way. It’s smart behavior by our football team. It’s smart behavior by our head coach. And everybody’s in charge of those things and getting these guys ready. Got a lot of confidence in these guys doing the stuff necessary to go out there and play. They know what it is. They played in a lot of games. They played in a lot of long seasons. I just think they prepare the right way. We talk about [CB Upton] Stout, you talk about all the guys that go out there and throw their body around. We just mentioned the corners, but these guys will be ready to go. I got a lot of confidence in them that way.”

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton isn’t calling plays right now, but it’s still his offense. What are the hallmarks of a Sean Payton offense?

“Execution, multi-personnel groupings, a furious first 15. You can go judge me online on that first 15, on that first drive, man. It’s going to be tough, but it always is. It’s always one of those things that you can do, Grant, and I absolutely enjoy playing against because of the challenge.”

What’s the key to stopping explosives? Was it a point of interest last week or is it just the way the game went?

“I just think that’s the way football is right now. You got to limit explosives in the National Football League, and that gives you a chance to win every football game. Then you got to go out there and make a few plays that gives you a chance in the National Football League, and we’ve been doing some really cool things. Obviously, there’s always things you want to clean up. There’s always things you want to do better. There’s always places you want to get better at, but I’m really pleased with where the guys are growing and developing, the growth that we’re having no matter who’s out there. It’s been fun.”

You mentioned going against Sean a lot over the years, but were you surprised to see a guy as accomplished as him as a play caller give that up?

“I mean, it’s happened in this league a bunch. Guys step back a little bit. I’m sure Sean’s going to be hands-on regardless. I mean, that’s what he does. He’s a great head coach. He’s a great offensive mind. He’s a great defensive coach. Got a personal relationship with him that goes beyond football. I just think he’s one of those guys that can absolutely do whatever it takes and needs in order for his football team to play the best, and I’ve got a lot of respect for Sean.”