Marion Hobby is in his 10th season as an NFL coach and fourth with the Bengals. A part of three consecutive winning seasons in his first three years in Cincinnati, he again leads the defensive line unit in 2024.
In 2023, Hobby helped DE Trey Hendrickson enjoy a career year that resulted in his third straight Pro Bowl selection. Hendrickson posted a career-high 17.5 sacks, which tied for second in the NFL and ranked second in a single season in team history. Hendrickson recorded at least one full sack in seven consecutive games, tying for the longest streak in the league in 2023 and marking the second longest streak of his career.
In 2022, Hobby coached a defensive line that spearheaded the seventh-ranked rushing defense in the NFL (106.6 yards allowed per game), which helped Cincinnati win its second straight AFC North Division title. Hendrickson had a team-high eight sacks, while DE Sam Hubbard notched 6.5 and led the Bengals with 11 TFLs.
Hobby led a pass-rushing resurgence for the Bengals in his first season in 2021, as Cincinnati's 41 sacks (t-11th in NFL) more than doubled its total of 17 in '20. Hendrickson, an offseason free agent acquisition, recorded 14 sacks, the fifth most in the league, to collect his first career Pro Bowl nod. During the regular season, four players — Hendrickson, Hubbard (7.5 sacks), DT Larry Ogunjobi (7.0) and DT B.J. Hill (5.5) — matched or surpassed the 2020 team's individual high of 5.5. The line continued its dominant play in the postseason, recording 10 sacks over four games to help lead the Bengals to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI.
Hobby spent the 2019-20 seasons as defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins. In 2020, the line helped Miami record 41 sacks, tied for 10th in the NFL. In 2019, Hobby helped develop rookie DT Christian Wilkins, the team's first-round pick who went on to lead all rookie defensive linemen with 56 tackles.
Hobby served as DL coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2017-18, leading one of the top units in the NFL. In 2017, the Jags ranked second leaguewide in sacks (55), with four players recording at least eight. Under Hobby, DL Calais Campbell became the first player in Jaguars history to log double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons (14.5 in 2017, 10.5 in '18).
Hobby has had two separate stints on Clemson University's coaching staff. The second was from 2011-16, when he served as co-defensive coordinator/DEs coach. The Tigers earned two national championship game berths and a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2016 with Hobby on staff. He also helped develop several NFL D-linemen, including DT DJ Reader, who went on to spend four seasons (2020-23) with the Bengals.
In 2014, Clemson led the nation in total defense (260.8 yards per game) and TFLs (131). That year's line included future first-rounder Vic Beasley, who spent three seasons under Hobby and became Clemson's all-time sack leader (33).
Prior to joining Clemson, Hobby spent three seasons (2008-10) as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Duke University. In 2008, the Blue Devils held opponents to just 23.4 points per game, the program's best mark in 20 years. One of Duke's key contributors during that time was former Bengals LB Vincent Rey.
Hobby spent 2006-07 seasons as DEs coach for the New Orleans Saints. In 2006, he helped late Saints DE Will Smith net 10.5 sacks and a Pro Bowl nod.
Hobby's first stint at Clemson came in 2005, when he served as defensive line coach. Powered by the defensive line, Clemson ranked 11th in the nation in scoring defense (17.6 points per game).
Hobby has also held assistant coach positions at Mississippi (1999-2004), Tennessee (1998), Louisiana-Lafayette (1996-97) and Tennessee-Martin (1995).
Hobby was an All-SEC defensive end at the University of Tennessee before being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 1990 NFL draft. He played three seasons with the Vikings and Patriots (1990-92).
Born Nov. 7, 1966, Hobby was raised in Irondale, Ala. (outside Birmingham). He and his wife, Constance, have three daughters — Maria, Mariah and Camille.
Playing and coaching history: 1986-89—Played DE at Tennessee. 1990-92—Played DE with New England Patriots. 1995—Assistant coach (AC), Tennessee-Martin. 1996-97—AC, Louisiana-Lafayette. 1998—AC, University of Tennessee. 1999-2004—AC, University of Mississippi. 2005—AC, Clemson. 2006-07—AC, New Orleans Saints. 2008-09—AC, Duke. 2010—Defensive coordinator, Duke. 2011-16—Co-defensive coordinator, Clemson. 2017-18—AC, Jacksonville Jaguars. 2019-20—AC, Miami Dolphins. 2021-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
