Five months after the San Francisco 49ers reshuffled their coaching staff, one national analyst is already buying in on the new look. Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano ranked the duo of offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as the No. 4 coordinator pairing in the entire NFL.
That’s a pretty strong vote of confidence for a group that hasn’t even played a real game together yet. But Manzano sees the potential, and the pieces are there.
The Offensive Side: Kubiak’s Growing Reputation
Kubiak stepped into the OC role in 2025 after the previous coordinator departed. Since then, he’s been credited with helping Brock Purdy develop into one of the more reliable young quarterbacks in the league. Now he gets to add Mike Evans to the mix. The newly acquired star receiver brings a proven track record and a physical presence that should open up things downfield. San Francisco’s offense finished seventh in the league last season, and Kubiak’s challenge is to weave Evans into that system without disrupting the rhythm that made it work.
Morris Gets a Second Act
Morris arrives in Santa Clara after two unremarkable years as Atlanta’s head coach. His Falcons teams didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard, but that story doesn’t tell the whole truth. Under Morris, Atlanta’s defense quietly improved. Takeaways jumped from 18 in 2024 to 23 in 2025. That’s real growth, and it’s the kind of thing that gets defensive coordinators hired.
There’s also the small matter of Morris having a Super Bowl ring from his time running the Rams defense under Sean McVay. That 2021 Rams unit was nasty, and Morris was a big part of it. The 49ers defense slipped to 20th in the league last season under Saleh, so there’s room for improvement. Analysts think Morris can get them back to being a top-tier group.
How Morris Almost Landed Elsewhere
The hiring cycle could have gone totally different. Five months ago, Dianna Russini reported that the Arizona Cardinals were serious about Morris. He was one of three finalists for their head coaching gig, alongside Anthony Campanile and Mike LaFleur. Instead, Morris chose to join Kyle Shanahan’s staff in San Francisco. That decision now looks like it might pay off in a big way for both sides.
The 49ers have a history of getting the most out of their coordinators. Shanahan’s system gives them room to operate, and the roster is loaded enough that they don’t have to start from scratch. For Morris, it’s a chance to rehab his reputation after that Atlanta experience. For Kubiak, it’s an opportunity to prove he can handle a bigger spotlight. Together, they’re a duo worth watching.
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