Marion Hobby is in his ninth season as an NFL coach and third with the Bengals. He again leads the defensive line unit.
In 2022, Hobby coached a defensive line that ranked among the league's best against the run, as Cincinnati allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL (106.6) en route to its second straight division title. He helped DE Trey Hendrickson post a team-high eight sacks and earn his second straight Pro Bowl selection, while DE Sam Hubbard notched 6.5 sacks and led the Bengals with 11 TFLs. On the interior, DTs B.J. Hill and DJ Reader combined for eight PDs, while helping allow LBs Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt to record career highs in tackles.
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 NFL and second-most in team history, 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 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 previous two seasons (2019-20) as defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins. In 2020, the line helped lead Miami to top-10 NFL rankings in points allowed per game (21.1), sacks (41) and forced fumbles (14). In 2019, Hobby headed the development of 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 (2017-18), leading one of the top units in the NFL. In 2017, the Jags ranked second leaguewide in sacks (55) and takeaways (33), with four players recording at least eight sacks. 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 defensive linemen, including current Reader, who played for the Tigers from 2012-15.
In 2015, Hobby coached future first-round pick Shaq Lawson and future second-rounder Kevin Dodd, who ranked first and second, respectively, in the nation in TFLs.
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 sacks 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 to 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/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 defensive end at University of Tennessee. 1990-92—Played defensive end, 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.
