One of the most respected veteran assistants in NFL history looks to be calling it a career. Rod Marinelli is headed for retirement, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Former #Lions head coach and most recently #Raiders DL coach Rod Marinelli is planning to retire, sources say. He’s had interest in continuing to coach, but has packed up and headed to Texas. At 72, Marinelli has been one of the game’s most respected teachers.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 10, 2022
Marinelli spent the past two seasons with the Raiders. The longtime NFL defensive coordinator and defensive line coach came onboard in 2020 to coach the defensive line. Then with the firing of Paul Guenther late that season, Marinelli stepped in as the interim defensive coordinator.
Last season the Raiders opted to hire Gus Bradley as the new defensive coordinator and the one stipulation was that Marinelli remained at the D-line coach. And Bradley had no issue with that as Marinelli is the best in the business.
It was a similar situation in Tampa when Jon Gruden took over as head coach in 2002. Marinelli had been the D-line coach with the Buccaneers since 1996 and Gruden retained him in that role and added the title of assistant head coach.
In 2006 becoming an actual head coach came calling and he spent three years in Detroit coaching the Lions. Then it was on to Chicago where he began as the D-line coach and after one season took over as defensive coordinator.
After four years in Chicago, he moved on to Dallas where he spent seven years (2013-19) as the defensive line coach and defensive coordinator.
Marinelli will be 73 in July and with the Raiders’ new coaching staff, it appears as if now is the right time to ride off into the Texas sunset.
