Report: Jaguars request interview with Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris

According to a report from former ESPN reporter Josina Anderson, the Jaguars have formally requested an interview with current Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris for the team’s vacant head coach position.

The Jaguars and owner Shad Khan announced the departure of head coach Doug Marrone yesterday, starting the search for a new head coach, along with a new general manager.

Morris, 44, has spent the past six years with the Falcons in a variety of roles, including assistant head coach, wide receivers coach and defensive backs coach. Most recently, Morris was the team’s defensive coordinator prior to the ousting of then-head coach Dan Quinn. Morris was then named the team’s interim head coach shortly thereafter.

Since taking over as the team’s interim head coach, Morris has posted a record of 4-7, with the Falcons ultimately finishing 4-12 on the year.

A long-time NFL coach, Morris began his career in the pros in 2002 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive quality control coach, then promoted twice to defensive assistant and then to assistant defensive backs coach.

After spending one year away from the Bucs in collegiate football, he would return to become the team’s defensive backs coach for two seasons before being named the team’s head coach in 2009, at just 33 years old.

Morris would stay as the Buccaneers head coach from 09-11, posting a record of 17-31.

The Jaguars will continue to interview a wide variety of qualified candidates as the weeks move forward. Yesterday, Khan indicated ideally the team would hire both a head coach and general manager at the same time.