Buccaneers make Morris youngest NFL coach

Raheem Morris became the National Football League’s youngest coach Saturday when the 32-year-old defensive coordinator was promoted one day after the firing of Jon Gruden.

In addition to making Morris only the seventh black head coach in NFL history, the Buccaneers made director of pro personnel Mark Dominik the team’s new general manager, replacing Bruce Allen, who was also fired on Friday.

The ouster came in the wake of a last-season collapse that cost Tampa Bay a playoff spot. The Bucs began the season 9-3 but lost their final four games to tumble out of the title chase.

Morris oversaw the Tampa Bay secondary until last month when he replaced Monte Kiffin in the defensive post after Kiffin departed to guide the University of Tennessee.

“In anything with change you have questions,” said Derrick Brooks, an 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker. “He will bring the energy we need to get everyone on the same page.

“We have to deal with change. The more comfortable people are in their roles, the better we can deal with this and make the best of it.”

Gruden guided Tampa Bay for the past seven seasons and to a Super Bowl crown in 2003 but the team lost both playoff appearances since. Morris was a worthy choice, according to Buccaneers defenders.

“I’m ecstatic over the decision,” linebacker Barrett Ruud said. “He was on that fast track to being a head coach. He’s one of the rising superstars in the profession. So I’m thrilled he’s going to be coaching me.

“He brings not only great Xs and Os strategy and fundamental football, but he really knows situational football too. You combine that with knowing how to motivate people and knowing push people, he’s going to be a great coach.”

Linebacker Cato June added: “It’s good that we can hire from within a guy that knows the expectations and is going to get the guys motivated and hopefully turn this thing around.”

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