James Lawrence Mora

Jim Mora is in his second year as assistant head coach to Mike Holmgren and defensive secondary coach. Mora joined the Seahawks on January 22, 2007, after serving as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.  He will be the successor to Holmgren, taking over as Head Coach in the Spring of 2009.

The son of former NFL head coach Jim Mora Sr., the 45-year-old Mora is an alumnus of the University of Washington and attended Interlake High School in Bellevue. He was named head coach of the Falcons in 2004 and compiled a 26-22 record in his three years – plus 1-1 in the postseason.

The Falcons set a franchise record with 11 wins in his first season and became only the 11th rookie coach in NFL history to win a division title. They moved on to the NFC Championship game in that first season – only the second time in club history – by virtue of defeating the St. Louis Rams 47-17 in the Divisional Playoff game before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10.

Mora was named the Falcons 12th head coach on January 9, 2004. Along with his impeccable motivational and organizational skills, Mora brought two of the NFL's best offensive and defensive coordinators, the NFL's top offensive line coach, a top tier special teams coordinator, and several other highly accomplished NFL assistants who seemingly overnight changed the culture and direction of the Falcons.

Mora and his staff guided the Falcons to an 11-5 record in 2004, capturing the NFC South Division title, and capping the club's dramatic one-year turnaround with its second-ever appearance in the NFC Championship Game, earning him the 2004 NFC Coach of the Year Award.

Mora joined the Falcons from the San Francisco 49ers where he spent seven seasons, including the last five as defensive coordinator. In San Francisco, Mora instructed a group of young, up-and-coming players and helped them to fulfill their potential as the 49ers qualified for the postseason in two of the last three seasons. The last two seasons, Mora's defense finished no worse than No. 4 in the NFC against the run and in 2003, the 49ers recorded 36 takeaways, their most since 1997. In addition, at least one player from Mora's defense was named to the Pro Bowl in four of his last five seasons as defensive coordinator.

Mora's appointment with the Falcons was the product of a career that had been 19 years in the making. During that time, which has included stops in San Diego (1985-1991), New Orleans (1992-96) and San Francisco (1997-2003), he has had the opportunity to learn and study the game from some of the game's most respected coaches, which include Bill Walsh, Don Coryell, Steve Mariucci, Bobby Beathard, Jim Finks, Ernie Zampese, and his father, Jim, just to name a few. His football world also has been shaped by being surrounded by some of the most accomplished players of their time in the NFL and some future and current Hall of Famers.

Mora balances a style that is energetic, approachable and open-minded but at the same time he's a driven coach who is a passionate, hard-nosed, demanding competitor.

As a byproduct, the game of football has always enabled Mora to be exposed to people and experiences that most would not otherwise have the ability to come into contact with. From the chance to be a visiting locker room attendant for the Seattle Seahawks at a young age or to be a ball boy at the 1978 Rose Bowl to the opportunity to come into contact with important political minds, Mora has been able to create a well-rounded foundation, which has played a big role in his development as a person and as a coach. With a father - James Ernest Mora - that was one of the most successful head coaches (125 NFL career victories) in NFL history to lean on - James Lawrence Mora - has been the benefactor of that experience.

The philosophy of being prepared and having a second-to-none work ethic has always served Mora well both as a player and as a coach. As a linebacker at the University of Washington, Mora had to call on that work ethic in order to solidify his place on the team. In fact, the 1983 Huskies media guide described Mora as, "a one-time walk-on who has created jobs for himself through determination and hard work." It was at the University of Washington where Mora would encounter Huskies coaching legend Don James, one of the many individuals who have helped shape who Mora is today.

While at Washington, Mora had the opportunity to be a part of two Rose Bowl teams, in addition to helping the Huskies to a berth in the Orange Bowl as a graduate assistant on James' staff in 1984. After a one-year stint as a student assistant at Washington, Mora pointed his professional compass toward the NFL. Two teams - the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers - showed interest; Mora decided on San Diego. He filled the role as the first ever in the NFL to be known as a quality control coach with the Chargers in 1985.

Mora's initial job consisted of duties such as breaking down game film, charting defenses, opponent tendencies, self-scout tendencies and game analysis reports. Mora seized the opportunity to do as much as he could to learn the NFL ropes and also worked on the field with the secondary, handled daily practice scripts, schedules, helped on games plans, and even had the keys to every room in the building in case he had to get somewhere late at night if a door was locked.

After a shakeup on the San Diego coaching staff necessitated changes with the defensive staff, Mora found himself on the field in another capacity. As the only available coach who knew the defensive signals, Mora was asked to relay in the defenses from the sideline. The assignment officially launched Mora's NFL fulltime coaching career. He was named defensive backs assistant one year later, a position he held until earning the role of defensive backs coach in 1989. After a successful stint with the Chargers, Mora joined his father's staff in 1992 in New Orleans as secondary coach, where the elder Mora was in the process of making the Saints a regularly competitive outfit for the first time in their team history.

It was in New Orleans that Mora started to distinguish himself as one of the NFL's premier position coaches as the Saints boasted the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL during his first two years instructing the defensive backs. Mora remained with New Orleans through the 1996 season.

In 1997, he accepted a job offer as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive backs coach. It was there that he continued to raise eyebrows as a coach who knew exactly where to tap in order to get his players to respond. In his first year, the 49ers finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense, No. 2 in pass defense (with 25 interceptions), takeaways (41) and run defense, as well as No. 3 in the League in sacks (with 54). Mora helped San Francisco advance to the NFC Championship Game in his first season where five members of the defense were voted to the Pro Bowl. A year later, Mora's troops tied for No. 1 in the NFC and No. 4 in the NFL with 21 interceptions.

Off the field, Mora spends as much time as possible with his family.  Coach Mora and Shannon, his wife of 14 years, have four children including: daughter Lillia, and sons, Cole, Ryder and Trey. Coming from a football family, Mora knows the importance of a quality family life and the importance of giving back. In Shannon, Mora matter-of-factly acknowledges the important role that his wife (and partner of over 25 years together) plays in his life.  Together, Coach and Shannon created the Jim Mora Count On Me Family Foundation, October 2005, to help make a difference in Georgia – the Foundation will now serve children in both the metro Atlanta and Seattle areas.  The Foundation is a grant making public charity, which holds annual fundraisers to support the grant process.  In addition to their Foundation, Mora is on the Board of Advisors at Eagle Ranch (Chestnut Mountain, Georgia), and is very involved with Special Olympics of Georgia and the metro Atlanta Boys and Girls Clubs.

 Career History: