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Chris Morgan
Offensive Line
College: Colorado
Hometown: Killeen, TX
Biography
Chris Morgan is in his first season as offensive line coach for the Bears in 2022. Morgan, who has coached in two Super Bowls, is in his 14th season overall as an NFL offensive line coach after completing his first year as Pittsburgh's assistant offensive line coach in 2021.
Chris Morgan is in his first season as offensive line coach for the Bears in 2022.
Morgan, who has coached in two Super Bowls, is in his 14th season overall as an NFL offensive line coach after completing his first year as Pittsburgh's assistant offensive line coach in 2021. He arrived in Pittsburgh after a six-year stint with Atlanta (2015-20), where he served as the Falcons' offensive line coach for all six seasons, including one as run game coordinator (2018). Morgan was also an assistant offensive line coach in Seattle (2014), Washington (2011-13) and Oakland (2009-10).
Last season in 2021, Morgan assisted with an offensive line that helped pave the way for rookie running back Najee Harris to rush for 1,200 yards, the fourth best total in the NFL, and also break Franco Harris' franchise rookie rushing record of 1,055 yards set back in 1972. Harris totaled 10 touchdowns on the season, seven on the ground and three through the air, with 467 receiving yards, the third most among NFL running backs.
Morgan was named the Steelers' interim head offensive line coach in early January after Adrian Klemm departed for a coaching job at Oregon. In his first game as the primary offensive line coach against the Browns in Week 17, the Steelers rushed for a season-high 190 yards, the most by the Steelers in more than four years. The Steelers finished the 2021 season 9-7-1, won three of their last four and received a wild card playoff berth.
In 2019, Morgan coached an offensive line in Atlanta whose production allowed the offense to average 379.7 yards per game, the fifth-most in the NFL, and average 294.6 passing yards per game, the third-highest average in the league.
The Falcons selected two offensive linemen in the first round of the 2019 Draft, guard Chris Lindstrom (16th) and tackle Kaleb McGary (31st). Under Morgan's guidance, both players earned starting roles coming out of training camp. Lindstrom was unfortunately sidelined after suffering an injury in Week 1, but he would return, and the duo started the last four games of the season.
In 2018, Morgan coached an offensive line that blocked for an offense that averaged 389.1 yards per game, the sixth-most yards per game in the league. The offensive line's blocking was also a major part in the offense averaging 290.8 passing yards per game, which was the fourth-highest average in the NFL.
Under Morgan's guidance, the offensive line was able to keep quarterback Matt Ryan upright and able to throw for 4,294 yards and 35 touchdowns. The offensive line's production made it possible for the Falcons to average 6.2 yards per play in 2018, which was the fifth most in the NFL and the second-highest yards per play average in franchise history.
Morgan continued to oversee the growth of center Alex Mack, who was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl – his fourth straight selection. Tackle Jake Matthews was also selected to his first Pro Bowl under Morgan's guidance in 2018 as well.
In 2017, Morgan coached an offensive line that only allowed 24 sacks, which was tied for the third-lowest amount in the NFL. Morgan's offensive line was also a catalyst for the eighth-best offense in the league. The Falcons offense averaged 364.8 yards per game and blocked for quarterback Matt Ryan who averaged 249.4 passing yards per game, which was also the eighth highest in the league. Their blocking also helped the 10-year veteran reach his seventh straight 4,000 passing yard season.
Morgan coached Mack who was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl after anchoring the offensive line for the second year in Atlanta. In 2017, Morgan's offensive line showed its ability to sustain blocks by springing the offense for 230 big plays (plays that are 10+ yards) and allowing Ryan to average 7.8 yards per pass attempt, both of which were the fifth in their categories.
Morgan's teaching was essential in helping the offensive line block for the Falcons running backs, who averaged 4.3 yards per carry, which was eighth in the NFL in 2017. The offensive line also blocked for an offense that was third in the NFL in explosive runs (12+ yards-or-more).
During his second season with the Falcons, Morgan's offensive line blocked for Ryan, who was awarded the NFL MVP award at the end of the 2016 season. The offensive line was a major reason why the team averaged a league-high and franchise-high 33.8 points per game. The Falcons broke the franchise record for most points scored in a season in Week 15, with the help of the offensive line, when they scored 540 total points on the season, which tied them with the 2000 St. Louis Rams for the eighth-most points scored in a season. Ryan threw for a career and franchise-high 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns and also had a career-high 117.1 passer rating, which was the fifth-best all-time passer rating. Morgan also helped coach Mack, who was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.
Morgan's offensive line also helped pave the way for a rushing attack that racked up 1,928 yards on that season, which was fifth in the league in 2016. Under his guidance, the offensive line helped running back Devonta Freeman, who finished in the top-10 in rushing for the second year in a row and made it to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
During Morgan's first year in 2015, his line helped produce the Falcons' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2011, while giving up the eighth-fewest sacks in the league last year.
Morgan spent the 2014 season as assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2014, Seattle used eight different starting combinations on the offensive line, including playoffs, and still led the NFL in rushing yards, recording a franchise-high 2,762 yards. In addition to leading the league in rushing last season, the Seahawks offensive line also assisted in helping Seattle lead the NFL in explosive plays (135) and explosive running plays (61) while paving the way to Super Bowl XLIX.
Prior to arriving in Seattle, Morgan served as an assistant offensive line coach with the Washington Football Team (2011-13) and Oakland Raiders (2009-10). In 2012, Morgan helped direct a unit that rushed for a team-record 2,709 yards, marking the franchise's first team rushing crown since 1933 and their club's first NFC East title since 1999. Also during his time with the Football Team, tackle Trent Williams was selected to two consecutive Pro Bowls in 2012 and 2013.
In 2010, Oakland ranked 10th in the NFL in yards per game (356.6) and sixth in points per game (25.6). Prior to Oakland, Morgan spent the previous five seasons coaching at the high school level in his native Texas, serving as offensive line coach, special teams coordinator, offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Westfield High School in Houston.
Morgan served as an offensive graduate assistant at the University of Idaho after two years as an assistant coach at Copperas Cove (Texas) High. He played offensive line at the University of Colorado from 1995-1999 and earned his master's degree in educational leadership at Idaho.
Morgan and his wife, Holly, have three children.