Rod Marinelli
Encyclopedia
Rodney Marinelli is the defensive coordinator
and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach
of the Detroit Lions
. He was fired from his position as head coach on December 29, 2008, one day after coaching the Lions to the worst single-season record in NFL history, 0–16.
until 1982. He then moved on to the University of California
for nine seasons, serving as the defensive line coach and later the assistant head coach. He was then on staff with Arizona State University
for three seasons, again holding a dual role as defensive line and assistant head coach, between 1992 and 1994. Marinelli spent his final year in college football at University of Southern California
in 1995.
in 1996 and was the defensive line coach for 6 seasons under head coach Tony Dungy
. The latter four seasons he also served as assistant head coach. He was known for his structured approach and his commitment for trying to get the most out of his players. There he worked to develop lineman such as Warren Sapp
and Simeon Rice
into Pro Bowl caliber players. During Marinelli's tenure in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers earned more sacks than any other franchise.
, replacing Dick Jauron
. Marinelli was the fourth coach hired by Lions CEO Matt Millen
, preceded by Marty Mornhinweg
, Steve Mariucci
and Dick Jauron
.
The Marinelli era began poorly, as the Lions lost the first five games of the 2006 season before beating the Buffalo Bills
20–17. The Lions lost seven games in a row between weeks 10 and 16 before ending the year on a high note by beating the Dallas Cowboys
39–31.
The 2007 season started off well for the Lions as they roared to a 6–2 start, with credit being given to Marinelli's "Pound the Rock" approach. At one point, receiver Mike Furrey
boasted, "The Lions are 4–2, media! You can kiss my ass!"
Despite winning the next two games after Furrey's comments, the Lions lost seven out of their last eight games, and finished the 2007 season with a 7–9 record, good enough for 3rd in the NFC North.
Despite a perfect 4–0 preseason, Marinelli coached the 2008 Lions to an 0–16 season, the first team in NFL history to lose every game of a season since a 16-game regular season was instituted in 1978 (the last winless regular season NFL team being the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
during a 14-game campaign). Many fans and sportswriters questioned Marinelli's "mind over matter" approach and ability to correctly judge and assemble talent.
On December 26, 2008, Marinelli was fired, in addition to the majority of his coaching staff. His record during the 3 seasons with the Lions was a very dismal 10–38, one of the worst in NFL history for a head coach with at least three years experience.
, whom he worked with under Tony Dungy
in Tampa Bay
from 1996–2000. Marinelli also interviewed with the Houston Texans
and Seattle Seahawks
before joining the Bears. Marinelli was promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator of the Bears on February 5, 2010.
, the former Lions defensive coordinator. On December 21, 2008, during a post game press conference of a game against the Saints in which the Lions gave up touchdowns on the Saints first six offensive possessions, Detroit News reporter Rob Parker
asked Marinelli whether he wishes his daughter married a better defensive coordinator. Marinelli initially had no comment, but later said that he thought the question was inappropriate. Marinelli also has two granddaughters and two grandsons. Marinelli is a veteran of the Vietnam War
.
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. He was fired from his position as head coach on December 29, 2008, one day after coaching the Lions to the worst single-season record in NFL history, 0–16.
Early coaching career
Marinelli's coaching career began in 1973 as an assistant at Rosemead High School in suburban Los Angeles from 1973 to 1975. He earned his first collegiate job in 1976, serving as an assistant at Utah State UniversityUtah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
until 1982. He then moved on to the University of California
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
for nine seasons, serving as the defensive line coach and later the assistant head coach. He was then on staff with Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
for three seasons, again holding a dual role as defensive line and assistant head coach, between 1992 and 1994. Marinelli spent his final year in college football at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1995.
Professional coaching
Marinelli went to the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in 1996 and was the defensive line coach for 6 seasons under head coach Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
. The latter four seasons he also served as assistant head coach. He was known for his structured approach and his commitment for trying to get the most out of his players. There he worked to develop lineman such as Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
and Simeon Rice
Simeon Rice
Simeon James Rice [] is a former American football defensive end, last playing in 2009. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
into Pro Bowl caliber players. During Marinelli's tenure in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers earned more sacks than any other franchise.
Detroit Lions
On January 18, 2006, Marinelli was named the head coach of the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, replacing Dick Jauron
Dick Jauron
Richard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
. Marinelli was the fourth coach hired by Lions CEO Matt Millen
Matt Millen
Matthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
, preceded by Marty Mornhinweg
Marty Mornhinweg
Marty Mornhinweg is the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, having joined the Eagles in 2003 as the assistant head coach. He was named offensive coordinator on January 6, 2006, after the Eagles previous offensive coordinator Brad Childress was hired as the head coach of the...
, Steve Mariucci
Steve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
and Dick Jauron
Dick Jauron
Richard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
.
The Marinelli era began poorly, as the Lions lost the first five games of the 2006 season before beating the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
20–17. The Lions lost seven games in a row between weeks 10 and 16 before ending the year on a high note by beating the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
39–31.
The 2007 season started off well for the Lions as they roared to a 6–2 start, with credit being given to Marinelli's "Pound the Rock" approach. At one point, receiver Mike Furrey
Mike Furrey
Michael Thomas Furrey is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University.Furrey has also played for the...
boasted, "The Lions are 4–2, media! You can kiss my ass!"
Despite winning the next two games after Furrey's comments, the Lions lost seven out of their last eight games, and finished the 2007 season with a 7–9 record, good enough for 3rd in the NFC North.
Despite a perfect 4–0 preseason, Marinelli coached the 2008 Lions to an 0–16 season, the first team in NFL history to lose every game of a season since a 16-game regular season was instituted in 1978 (the last winless regular season NFL team being the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
during a 14-game campaign). Many fans and sportswriters questioned Marinelli's "mind over matter" approach and ability to correctly judge and assemble talent.
On December 26, 2008, Marinelli was fired, in addition to the majority of his coaching staff. His record during the 3 seasons with the Lions was a very dismal 10–38, one of the worst in NFL history for a head coach with at least three years experience.
Chicago Bears
On January 5, 2009 Marinelli agreed to join the Bears as assistant head coach and defensive line coach, reuniting him with Lovie SmithLovie Smith
Lovie Lee Smith is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 Saint Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006....
, whom he worked with under Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
from 1996–2000. Marinelli also interviewed with the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
before joining the Bears. Marinelli was promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator of the Bears on February 5, 2010.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | DET 2006 Detroit Lions season The 2006 Detroit Lions season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2005.-Offseason:On January 19, the Lions hired Rod Marinelli as the team's new head coach. From the Tony Dungy "coaching tree", Marinelli had previously served as the defensive line coach and assistant coach... |
2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 4th in NFC North | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DET 2007 Detroit Lions season The 2007 Detroit Lions season was the 78th season for the team in the National Football League. After starting the 2007 season with a 6-2 record, the Lions lost 7 of their last 8 games. They finished with a 7-9 record for their seventh consecutive losing season... |
2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC North | ||||||
| DET 2008 Detroit Lions season The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League. Although the Lions had a flawless preseason with a 4-0 record, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to compile an 0-16 record in regular season play. They were mathematically eliminated... |
2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | 4th in NFC North | ||||||
| Total | 10 | 38 | 0 | .208 | ||||||||
Personal
Rod and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters, Chris and Gina. Chris is married to Joe BarryJoe Barry
Joe Barry is the linebackers coach for the University of Southern California, former linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the former defensive coordinator for the National Football League Detroit Lions. He is the son of former Detroit Lions assistant offensive line coach Mike Barry...
, the former Lions defensive coordinator. On December 21, 2008, during a post game press conference of a game against the Saints in which the Lions gave up touchdowns on the Saints first six offensive possessions, Detroit News reporter Rob Parker
Rob Parker (sports journalist)
Rob Parker is an American sports columnist for ESPNNewYork.com and ClickOnDetroit.com. Parker is also a regular on ESPN's First Take, where he debates Skip Bayless on the 1st and 10 segment...
asked Marinelli whether he wishes his daughter married a better defensive coordinator. Marinelli initially had no comment, but later said that he thought the question was inappropriate. Marinelli also has two granddaughters and two grandsons. Marinelli is a veteran of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.