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TThe New York Giants are the second team in the NFC East to reportedly have interest in Raheem Morris for their open defensive coordinator position. The Redskins are giving him a "long, hard look", but haven't formally interviewed him for the position yet. Players like Ryan Clark and London Fletcher have been complimentary of Morris as a coach during his time in Washington. Fletcher was lobbying for Morris to be the new Defensive Coordinator after Mike Shanahan was fired, and Ryan Clark called Morris the best DBs coach he's ever had.
Raheem Morris came to Washington after being fired as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach in 2011 after 3 years in the position. He has a long history with Bruce Allen, Jay Gruden, Sean McVay, and others who were members of the Bucaneers organization over the last 12 years.
Morris's secondary units have not been good during his time here, but there has been a laughable lack of talent, particularly at the safety position during that time. His secondary has become infamous for the "duck and tuck" missile headbutt made famous by Brandon Meriweather and taught to many others. The Redskins defense last season was ranked 288th out of 288 since 2006 in Total QBR allowed(75.8). Many people expected the defensive staff to be cleared out after Mike Shanahan was fired in 2013, but Jim Haslett and company remained in place. Now Jim Haslett and the team have "mutually agreed to part ways" Morris is still here, and if he does not get the defensive coordinator position he will likely be out too.
The Redskins do not have to grant permission to the New York Giants even though it would be a promotion for Morris. NFL rules state that teams only have to grant other teams permission for head coaching interviews. The Redskins have recently had permission denied for several potential DC candidates including San Francisco 49ers DC Vic Fangio, Buffalo Bills DC Jim Schwartz, and Kansas City Chiefs LB coach Gary Gibbs. It seems unlikely that Morris would get the job with the Giants, but you never know who will want a job with a head coach like Tom Coughlin who is likely on his last year unless the team starts winning. The team fired their long-time DC Perry Fewell(Redskins interviewed him for the head coach position last year) yesterday. Could Raheem Morris be the lame duck DC the Giants need?
Giants requested permission for defensive coordinator interview with Washington DB coach Raheem Morris, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2015
[UPDATE #1: 1/8/15 1:50PM] The Redskins have given the Giants permission to interview Raheem Morris for their DC job
Redskins giving Raheem Morris the green light to interview for Giants' DC position, source says.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) January 8, 2015
[UPDATE #2: 1/8/15 3:55PM] Morris will interview tomorrow with the Giants
Redskins DBs coach Raheem Morris will interview for the Giants defensive coordinator job tomorrow morning.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 8, 2015