The San Francisco 49ers defense could get a significant lift from an unlikely source thanks to new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Entering last season it looked like 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown was in a make-or-break spot. It was his third season and the 49ers looked to be ready to shift gears in the back end of their secondary with Malik Mustapha and fifth-round pick Marques Sigle. Brown struggled in 2025, but the 49ers didn’t make any significant additions to their safety room in the offseason.
Brown was the starting free safety to open camp, and through the first two weeks hasn’t faced any competition for that job. The 49ers’ patience appears to be paying off.
It’s hard to find a daily practice recap from the 49ers beat that doesn’t include a tidbit about a Brown pass breakup, or a Brown interception, or a Brown near interception. By all accounts he’s poised for a breakout year entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract.
Brown on Monday in a press conference credited Morris with his turnaround and said the entire group of defensive backs is benefitting from their new defensive coordinator’s scheme.
“Raheem’s dope, bro,” Brown said. “Super dope. He wants football players. Previous schemes we’ve been in haven’t wanted that. Raheem wants you to play football. He wants instinctive players. He wants guys who can get out there and play ball, and read the quarterback. So scheme fits all of us, man. It’s been great to see us transition into this explosive (defensive) back unit.”
This may or may not be a direct shot at former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Brown had his worst year as a pro in his lone year under Saleh in 2025. If Saleh was still the 49ers’ DC we may be talking about a new starting free safety in San Francisco.
Instead, Brown said Morris’ scheme highlights the qualities that the 49ers were looking for when they traded up for him in the third round of the 2023 draft.
“Me personally, it fits more into my strong suits,” Brown said. “Reading the quarterback, being reactive, letting my instincts take over − probably the best part of my game. So, that’s what I love about this scheme over the last schemes I’ve been in.”
A big year for Brown would not only mean an opportunity for a significant payday in the offseason, but it would also mean the 49ers have a better opportunity to mitigate some pass rush struggles by rolling out a productive secondary.
If Morris steps in and gets the best out of Brown and the rest of the 49ers defensive backs it would be a pretty significant win for a club with major question marks in its front seven.
More 49ers: 49ers CB says SF ‘not really focused’ on Rams, Seahawks entering 2026
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers former 3rd-round pick could be in for huge year after DC change
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Madson, Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
