Rod Marinelli to join Bears, will be assistant head coach to Lovie Smith…
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on January 11, 2009
The Chicago Bears are hoping a reunion will help spark their once dominant defense.
Rod Marinelli was named as an assistant head coach to Lovie Smith on Saturday, reuniting the twosome that spent 4 years together in Tampa Bay from 1996-2000.
Smith was the Buccaneers’ linebackers coach until he left in 2001 to serve 3 seasons as the St. Louis Rams’ defensive coordinator prior to joining the Bears in 2004.
Marinelli was the Buccaneers’ defensive line coach & later got promoted to assistant head coach under Jon Gruden prior to joining the Lions in 2006.
The Buccaneers led the NFL in sacks during Marinelli’s time in Tampa Bay, which is what he’s hoping to bring to Chicago.
Tampa Bay made the playoffs in 3 of 5 seasons when Smith & Marinelli spent time there under head coach Tony Dungy, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts.
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